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NICK  OF  THE  WOODS, 


OR 


THE  JIBBENAINOSAY. 


TALE  OF  KENTUCKY. 


BY  THE  AUTHOR  OF  "  CALAVAR,"    "THE  INFIDEL,"  &C. 


Unenligliten'd  man,— 
A  savage,  roaming  through  the  woods  and  wilds, 
In  quest  of  prey,  and  with  th'  unfashion'd  fur 
Rough  dad- 

Thomson. 


IN  TWO  VOLUMES. 

VOL.  I. 


CAREY,    LEA  &  BLANCHARD. 


1837. 


127226 


Entered  according- to  the  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1837, 
by  Caret,  Lea  &  BLAKCiiARi),in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  Dis- 
trict Court  of  the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


Treasiue  Room 


PREFACE. 


A  PECULIARLY  romaiitic  interest  has  ever  been 
attached  to  the  name  and  history  of  Kentucky, — 
the  first  region  of  the  great  uhramontane  Wil- 
derness penetrated  by  the  Saggenah,  or  EngUsh- 
man, — the  first  torn  from  its  aboriginal  possessors, 
and  converted  from  a  desert  hunting-ground  into 
the  home  of  civilized  men.  Tiie  ramblings  of  the 
solitary  Boone,  in  whose  woodland  adventures  we 
recognise  the  influence  of  the  wild  passion,  as 
common  on  the  American  frontier  as  in  the  poet's 
closet, — 

To  roam  for  food,  and  be  a  naked  man, 
And  wander  up  and  down  at  liberty, — 

and  the  fierce  strife  of  those  who  followed  in  his 
paths,  with  the  lords  of  the  forest,  are  chapters 
in  its  annals,  which,  if  they  be  not  themselves 
poetry,  are  productive  of  all  its  effects  on  the 
minds  of  the  dreamy  and  imaginative. 

But  apart  from  the  charm  the  history  of  Ken- 
tucky possesses  for  the  romantic,  it  has  an  inte- 
rest scarcely  inferior  for  the  grave  and  reflecting. 
This  is  derived  from  a  consideration  of  the  cha- 
racter of  the  men  by  whom — in  the  midst  of  dif- 


127226 


VI  PREFACE. 

in  our  relation,  are  recollections  still  cherished  in 
some  parts  of  Kentucky,  and  made  the  theme  of 
many  a  gleesomc  story. 

The  story  of  Wandering  Nathan  has  a  similar 
foundation  in  truth:  but  its  origin  belongs  to  one 
of  the  Western  counties  of  Pennsylvania. 

We  o^ve,  perhaps,  some  apology  for  the  hues 
we  have  thrown  around  the  Indian  portraits  in 
our  picture, — hues  darker  than  are  usually  em- 
ployed by  the  painters  of  such  figures.  But,  we 
confess,  the  North  American  savage  has  never 
appeared  to  us  the  gallant  and  heroic  })crsonage 
he  seems  to  others.  The  sin^jle  fact  that  he  wages 
war — systematic  war — upon  beings  incapable  of 
resistance  or  defence, — upon  women  and  chil- 
dren, whom  all  other  races  in  the  world,  no  mat- 
ter how  barbarous,  consent  to  spare, — has  hith- 
erto been,  and  we  suppose,  to  the  end  of  our  days 
will  remain,  a  stumbling-block  to  our  imagina- 
tion: we  look  into  the  woods  for  the  mightv 
warrior,  Uhe  feather-cinctured  chief,' rushing  to 
meet  his  foe,  and  behold  him  retiring,  laden  with 
the  scalps  of  miserable  squaws  and  their  babes. — 
Heroical  ?     Hoc  verhum  quid  valeat,  non  vident. 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

The  world  was  ail  before  them,  where  to  choose 
Their  place  of  rest,  and  Providence  their  guide: 
They,  hand  in  hand,  with  wandering  steps  and  slow. 
Through  Eden  took  their  solitary  way. 

Paradise  LosL 

If  we  can  believe  the  immortal  poet,  from 
whom  we  have  taken  the  above  lines,  to  serve  as 
our  letter  of  introduction  to  the  gentle  reader,  the 
grief  of  our  first  parents  for  the  loss  of  Paradise 
was  not  so  deep  and  ovei^whelming  but  that  they 
almost  immediately  found  comfort,  when  they  re- 
flected they  had  exchanged  it  for  the  land  of 
Eden, — itself  a  paradise,  though  an  earthly  and 
unsanctified  one: 

Some  natural  tears  they  dropt,  but  wiped  them  soon^ 

The  exiles  of  America,  who  first  forsook  their 
homes  on  the  borders  of  the  Atlantic,  to  build 
their  hearths  among  the  deserts  of  the  West,  had 
a  similar  consolation  ;  they  were  bending  their 
steps  towards  a  land,  to  which  rumour  at  first,  and 
afterwards  the  reports  of  a  thousand  adventurous 
visitants,  had  affixed  the  character  of  a  second 
elysium.  The  Dorado  of  the  Spaniards,  with  its 
cities  built  of  gold, 'its  highways  paved  with  dia- 
monds and  rubies,  was  not  more  captivating  to 
the  brains  of  Sir  Waher  Raleigh  and  his  fellow 
freebooters  of  the  16th  century,  than  was  the 
Kentucky  of  the  red  men,  with  its  fertile  fields, 

VOL.  I. — 2 


14  NICK  or  THE  WOODS. 

and  ever-blooming  forests,  to  the  imaginations  of 
their  descendants,  two  hundred  years  after.  It 
was  not  unnatural,  indeed,  that  men  should  re- 
gard as  an  Eden  the  land  in  which  the  gallant 
Daniel  Boone,  while  taking  his  "pleasing  ram- 
ble" on  the  22d  of  December,  17()0,  discovered 
"  myriads  of  trees,  some  gay  with  lilossoms,  others 
rich  with  fruits;"  which  blossoms  and  fruits,  as  he 
tells  us,  were  "beautifully  coloured,  elegantly 
shaped,  and  charmingly  flavoured."* 

It  might  be  difficult,  in  these  degenerate  days, 
to  find  fruits  and  flow^ers  adorning  any  forest  in 
Kentucky,  at  Christmas;  yet  there  was  enough, 
and  more  than  enough,  in  the  wild  beauty  and 
unexampled  fertility  of  the  country,  to  excuse  the 
rapture  of  the  hunter  and  to  w^arrant  high  ex- 
pectations on  the  part  of  the  eastern  emigrants, 
to  w'hom  he  had  opened  a  path  through  the  wil- 
derness, which  they  were  not  slow  to  follow.  A 
strong  proof  of  the  real  attractions  of  the  land 
was  to  be  seen  in  the  crowds  rushing  towards  it, 
year  after  year,  regardless  of  all  adverse  circum- 
stances. Suflfering  and  privation  of  all  kinds 
were  to  be  endured  on  the  long  and  savage  road, 
in  which  mountain,  river,  bog,  and  forest  were  to 
be  passed,  and  often,  too,  in  the  teeth  of  a  lurking 
foe ;  while  peril  of  every  imaginable  aspect  was 
still  to  be  encountered,  when  the  journey  was  at 
an  end.  The  rich  fields, — the  hunting-grounds  of 
a  dozen  tribes  of  Indians, — to  be  possessed,  were 
first  to  be  won,  and  won  from  an  enemy  at  once 
brave  and  cruel,  resolute  and  wily,  who  had  shown 
no  disposition  to  yield  them  except  with  life,  and 

*  See  the  worthy  pioneer's  "  Adventures,"  purporting-  to 
be  written  by  hinnself,  though  undoubtedly  furbished  up  by 
some  flowery  friend. 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  15 

who  had  already  stained  them  with  the  best  blood 
of  the  settler.  Such  evils  were  well  known  to 
exist ;  but  they  imposed  little  check  on  the  ardour 
of  adventurers:  the  tide  of  emigration,  at  first  a 
little  rivulet,  lost  among  forests,  increased  to  a 
river,  the  river  grew  into  a  flood,  overflowing  the 
whole  land;  and,  in  1792,  sixteen  years  after  the 
first  block-house  was  built  in  the  woods,  the  '  wil- 
derness^  of  Kentucky  was  admitted  into  the  Fede- 
ral Union,  a  free  and  sovereign  State,  with  a 
population  of  seventy-five  thousand  souls. 

Ten  years  before  that  happy  event — for  it  is 
to  this  early  period  we  must  ask  the  attention  of 
the  reader, — the  Shawanee  and  the  Wyandot  still 
hunted  the  bear  and  buffalo  in  the  cane-brake,  and 
waylaid  the  settler  at  the  gates  of  his  solitary 
stronghold.  The  *  District  of  Kentucky,'  then 
within  the  territorial  jurisdiction  of  Virginia,  com- 
prised but  three  inhabited  counties,  Fayette,  Jef- 
ferson, and  Lincoln ;  of  which,  to  play  the  geo- 
grapher briefly,  it  needs  only  to  say,  that  the  first 
occupied  all  the  country  north  and  east  of  the 
Kentucky  river ;  the  second  all  the  region  west 
of  that  river  as  far  as  Green  river,  which,  with 
the  redoubtable  Salt,  the  river  of  Roarers,  formed 
also  its  southern  bounds ;  while  the  third  extended 
over  all  the  territory  lying  south  of  the  two  others, 
and  was  therefore  the  first  reached  by  emigrants 
coming  from  Virginia  and  the  Carolinas  through 
the  Gap  of  the  Cumberlands.  In  these  counties, 
the  settlements  were  already  somewhat  numerous, 
although  confined,  for  the  most  part,  to  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  the  stations,  or  forts,  which  were  the 
only  effectual  places  of  refuge  for  the  husbandman 
and  his  family,  when  the  enemy  was  abroad  in  the 
land.  These  stations  were  mere  assemblages  of 
huts,  sometimes,  in  number,  approaching  to  vil- 


16  KICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

lages,  surroujidcd,  or  at  least  connected,  hut  to 
hut,  by  ranges  of  strong  palisades,  easily  defend- 
ed against  assailants  armed  only  v  ith  knives  and 
rifles.  Founded,  in  the  first  place,  by  some  bold 
and  resolute  pioneer,  each  station,  as  the  land 
filled  with  settlers,  was  enlarged  to  receive  other 
inhabitants,  who  were  glad  to  unite  with  the  foun- 
der in  defending  from  attack  a  place  so  necessary 
to  their  own  safety,  and  easily  conceded  him  a 
kind  of  military  authority  over  them,  which  was 
usually  confirmed  by  a  commission  from  the  State, 
on  the  division  of  the  District  into  counties,  and 
exercised  with  due  military  spirit,  on  all  proper 
occasions. 

The  sun  of  an  August  afternoon,  1782,  was  yet 
blazing  upon  the  rude  palisades  and  equally  rude 
cabins  of  one  of  the  principal  stations  in  Lincoln 
county,  when  a  long  train  of  emigrants,  issuing 
from  the  southern  forest,  wound  its  u  ay  over  the 
clearings,  and  among  the  waving  maize-fields 
that  surrounded  iht:  seiUemenT,  and  approached  the 
chief  gate  of  its  enclosure. 

The  party  was  numerous,  consisting  perhaps  of 
seven  or  eight  score  individuals  in  all,  men,  wo- 
men, and  children,  the  last  bearing  that  propor- 
tion to  the  others  in  point  of  numbers  usually 
found  in  a  borderer's  family,  and  thus,  with  the 
help  of  pack-horses,  cattle,  and  a  few  negroes,  the 
property  of  the  more  wealthy  emigrants,  scattered 
here  and  there  throughout  the  assemblage,  giving 
to  the  whole  train  the  appearance  of  an  army,  or 
moving  village,  of  Vandals  in  quest  of  some  new 
home  to  be  won  with  the  edge  of  the  sword.  Of 
the  whole  number  there  were  at  least  fifty  well 
armed ;  some  of  these,  however,  being  striplings 
of  fourteen,  and,  in  one  or  two  instances,  even  of 
twelve,  who  balanced  the  big  rifle  on  their  shoul- 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  17 

ders,  or  sustained  it  over  their  saddle-bows,  with 
all  the  gravity  and  dignity  of  grown  warriors; 
while  some  few  of  the  negroes  were  provided  with 
the  same  formidable  weapons.  In  fact,  the  dan- 
gers of  the  journey  through  the  wilderness  re- 
quired that  every  individual  of  a  party  should  be 
well  armed,  who  was  at  all  capable  of  bearing 
arms ;  and  this  was  a  kind  of  capacity  which  ne- 
cessity instilled  into  the  American  frontiersman 
in  the  earliest  infancy. 

Of  this  armed  force,  such  as  it  was,  the  two 
principal  divisions,  all  well  mounted,  or  at  least 
provided  with  horses,  which  they  rode  or  not  as 
the  humour  seized  them,  were  distributed  in  mili- 
tary order  on  the  front  and  in  the  rear;  while 
scouts  leading  in  the  van,  and  flanking-parties 
beating  the  woods  on  either  side,  where  the  nature 
of  the  country  permitted,  indicated  still  further 
the  presence  of  a  martial  spirit  on  the  part  of  the 
leaders.  The  women  and  children,  stowed  care- 
fully away  for  the  most  part  with  other  valuable 
chattels,  on  the  backs  of  pack-horses,  were  min- 
gled with  droves  of  cattle  in  the  centre,  many  of 
which  were  made  to  bear  burthens  as  well  as  the 
horses.  Of  wheeled  carriages  there  was  not  a 
single  one  in  the  whole  train,  the  difficulties  of  the 
road,  which  was  a  mere  bridle-path,  being  such 
that  they  were  never,  at  that  early  day,  attempt- 
ed to  be  brought  into  the  country,  unless  when 
wafted  in  boats  down  the  Ohio. 

Thus  marshalled,  and  stealing  from  the  depth  of 
the  forest  into  the  clearings  around  the  Station, 
there  was  something  in  the  appearance  of  the  train 
wild,  singular,  and  striking.  The  tall  and  robust 
frames  of  the  men,  wrapped  in  blanket-coats 
and  hunting-frocks, — some  of  which,  where  the 
wearers  were  voung  and  of  gallant  tempers, 
2* 


18  MCK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

were  profusely  decked  with  fringes  of  yellow, 
green,  and  scarlet ;  the  gleam  of  their  w  capons ; 
and  the  tramp  of  their  horses;  gave  a  warlike  air 
to  the  whole,  typical,  it  might  be  supposed,  of  the 
sanguinary  struggle  by  which  alone  the  desert 
was  to  be  won  from  the  wandering  barbarian  ; 
while  the  appearance  of  their  families,  with  their 
domestic  beasts  and  the  implements  of  husbandry, 
was  in  harmony  with  what  might  be  supposed  the 
future  destinies  of  the  land,  when  peaceful  labour 
should  succeed  to  the  strife  of  conquest. 

The  exiles  were  already  in  the  heart  of  their 
land  of  promise,  and  many  within  view  of  the 
haven  where  they  were  to  end  their  wanderings. 
Smiles  of  pleasure  lighted  their  way-worn  coun- 
tenances, as  they  beheld  the  waving  fields  of 
maize  and  the  gleam  of  the  distant  cabins;  and 
their  satisfaction  was  still  further  increased,  when 
the  people  of  the  »Station,  catching  sight  of  them, 
rushed  out,  some  mounted  and  others  on  foot,  to 
meet  tliem,  uttering  loud  shouts  of  welcome,  such 
as,  in  that  day,  greeted  every  band  of  new-comers; 
and  adding  to  the  clamour  of  the  reception  ^  feu- 
de-joie,  which  they  fired  in  lK)noiir  of  the  numbers 
and  martial  appearance  of  the  present  company. 
The  salutation  was  requited,  and  the  stirring  hur- 
rahs returned,  by  the  travellers,  most  of  whom 
pressed  forward  to  the  van  in  disorder,  eager  to 
take  part  in  the  merry-making  ere  it  was  over,  or 
perhaps  to  seek  for  friends  who  liad  })receded 
them  in  the  journey  through  the  wilderness.  Such 
friends  were,  in  many  instances  found,  and  their 
loud  and  afiectionate  greetings  were  mingled  with 
the  scarce  less  cordial  welcomes  extended  by  the 
colonists  even  to  the  unknown  stranger.  Such  was 
the  reception  of  the  emigrants  at  that  period  and 
in  that  country,  where  men  were  united  together 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  19 

by  a  sense  of  common  danger ;  and  where  every 
armed  visiter,  besides  being  an  accession  to  the 
strength  of  the  colonists,  brought  with  him  such 
news  of  absent  friends  and  still  remembered  homes 
as  was  sure  to  recommend  him  to  favour. 

The  only  individual  who,  on  this  occasion  of  re- 
joicing, preserved  a  melancholy  countenance,  and 
who,  instead  of  riding  forward,  like  the  others,  to 
shake  hands  with  the  people  of  the  Station,  be- 
trayed an  inclination  to  avoid  their  greetings  alto- 
gether, was  a  young  man,  who,  from  the  position 
he  occupied  in  the  band,  and  from  other  causes, 
was  entitled  to  superior  attention.  With  the  rank 
and  nominal  title  of  Second  Captain, — a  dignity 
conferred  upon  him  by  his  companions,  he  was, 
in  reality,  the  commander  of  the  party,  the  ostensi- 
ble leader  being,  although  a  man  of  good  repute 
on  the  Virginia  border,  entirely  wanting  in  the 
military  reputation  and  skill  which  the  other  had 
acquired  in  the  armies  of  the  Republics,  and  of 
which  the  value  was  fully  appreciated,  when  dan- 
ger first  seemed  to  threaten  the  exiles  on  their 
march.  He  was  a  youth  of  scarce  twenty-three 
years  of  age;  but  five  of  those  years  had  been 
passed  in  camps  and  battles;  and  the  labours,  pas- 
sions, and  privations  of  his  profession  had  ante- 
dated the  period  of  manhood.  A  frame  tall  and 
athletic,  a  countenance  which,  although  retaining 
the  smoothness  and  freshness  of  youth,  was  yet 
marked  with  the  manly  gravity  and  decision  of 
mature  life,  added,  in  appearance,  at  least  six 
years  to  his  age.  He  wore  a  hunting-frock  of  the 
plainest  green  colour,  with  cap  and  leggings  of  lea- 
ther, such  as  were  worn  by  many  of  the  poorest 
or  least  pretending  exiles ;  like  whom  also  he  bore 
a  rifle  on  his  shoulder,  with  the  horn  and  other 
equipments  of  a  hunter.     There  was  little,  there- 


20  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

fore,  to  distinguish  him,  at  the  first  view,  from 
among  his  companions;  altliough  his  erect  mih- 
tary  bearing,  and  the  fine  blooded  bay  horse 
which  he  rode,  would  have  won  him  more  than  a 
passing  look.  The  holsters  at  his  saddle-bow,  and 
the  sabre  at  his  side,  were  weapons  not  indeed 
very  generally  worn  by  frontiersmen,  but  still 
common  enough  to  prevent  their  being  regarded 
as  badges  of  rank. 

With  this  youthful  officer,  the  rear-guard,  which 
he  commanded,  having  deserted  him,  to  press  for- 
ward to  the  van,  there  remained  only  three  per- 
sons, two  of  whom  were  negro  slaves,  both  mount- 
ed and  armed,  that  followed  at  a  little  distance  be- 
hind, leading  thrice  their  number  of  pack-horses. 
The  third  was  a  female,  who  rode  closely  at  his 
side,  the  rein  of  her  pony  being,  in  fact,  grasped 
in  his  hand ;  though  he  looked  as  if  scarce  con- 
scious that  he  held  it, — a  degree  of  insensibility 
that  would  have  spoken  little  in  his  favour  to  an 
observer;  for  his  companion  was  both  young  and 
beautiful,  and  watched  his  moody  countenance  on 
her  part  with  looks  of  the  most  anxious  and  affec- 
tionate interest.  Her  riding-habit,  chosen,  like  his 
own  garments,  with  more  regard  to  usefulness  than 
beauty,  and  perhaps  somewhat  the  worse  for  its 
encounters  with  the  wind  and  forest,  could  not 
conceal  the  graceful  figure  it  defended  ;  nor  had 
the  sunbeam,  though  it  had  darkened  the  briorht 
complexion  exposed  to  its  summer  fury,  during  a 
journey  of  more  than  six  weeks,  robbed  her  fair 
visage  of  a  single  charm.  There  was,  in  the  ge- 
neral cast  of  features,  a  sufficient  resemblance  be- 
tween the  two  to  indicate  near  relationship  ;  al- 
though it  was  plain  that  the  gloom  seated  upon 
the  brow  of  her  kinsman,  as  if  a  permanent  cha- 
racteristic,  was   an    unwelcome    and    unnatural 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  21 

visitant  on  her  own.  The  clear  blue  eye,  the 
golden  locks  floating  over  her  temples,  the  ruddy 
cheek  and  lip  of  seventeen,  and,  generally,  the 
frank  and  open  character  of  her  expression,  be- 
tokened a  spirit  too  joyous  and  elastic  to  indulge 
in  those  dark  anticipations  of  the  future  or  mourn- 
ful recollections  of  the  past,  which  clouded  the 
bosom  of  her  relative.  And  well  for  her  that  such 
was  the  cheerful  temper  of  her  mind ;  for  it  was 
manifest,  from  her  whole  appearance,  that  her  lot, 
as  originally  cast,  must  have  been  among  the  gen- 
tle, the  refined,  and  the  luxurious,  and  that  she 
was  now,  for  the  first  time,  exposed  to  discomfort, 
hardship,  and  suffering,  among  companions,  who, 
however  kind  and  courteous  of  conduct,  were  un- 
polished in  their  habits,  conversation,  and  feelings, 
and,  in  every  other  respect,  unfitted  to  be  her 
associates. 

She  looked  upon  the  face  of  her  kinsman,  and 
seeing  that  it  grew  tho  darker  and  gloomier  the 
nearer  they  approached  the  scene  of  rejoicing,  she 
laid  her  hand  upon  his  arm,  and  murmured  softly 
and  afl^ectionately, — 

"  Roland, — cousin, — brother  ! — what  is  it  that 
disturbs  you  ?  Will  you  not  ride  forward,  and  sa- 
lute the  good  people  that  are  making  us  welcome?" 

"  Us  !"  muttered  the  young  man,  with  a  bitter 
voice  ;  "  who  is  there  on  earth,  Edith,  to  welcome 
us  ?  Where  shall  we  look  for  the  friends  and  kins- 
folk, that  the  meanest  of  the  company  are  now 
finding  among  yonder  noisy  barbarians  ?" 

"  You  do  them  injustice,  Roland,"  said  the 
maiden.  "  Yesternight  we  had  experience  at  the 
Station  we  left,  that  these  wild  people  of  the 
woods  do  not  confine  their  welcomes  to  kinsmen. 
Kinder  and  more  hospitable  people  do  not  exist  in 
the  world," 


22  MCK  or  THE  WOODS. 

"  It  is  not  that,  Edith,"  said  the  young  man ; 
"  I  were  but  a  brute  to  doubt  their  hospitaHty. 
But  look,  Edith ;  we  are  in  Kentucky,  ahnost  at 
our  place  of  refuge.  Yonder  hovels,  lowly,  mean, 
and  wretched, — are  they  tlie  mansions  that  should 
sheher  the  child  of  my  father's  brother?  Yonder 
people,  the  outcasts  of  our  borders,  the  poor,  the 
rude,  the  savage, — but  one  degree  elevated  above 
the  Indians,  with  whom  they  contend, — are  they 
the  society  from  whom  Edith  Forrester  should 
choose  her  friends  ?" 

''  They  are,"  said  Edith,  firmly  ;  "  and  Edith 
Forrester  asks  none  better.  In  such  a  cabin  as 
these,  and,  if  need  be,  in  one  still  more  humble, 
she  is  content  to  pass  her  life,  and  dream  that  she 
is  still  in  the  house  of  her  fathers.  From  such 
people,  too,  she  will  choose  her  friends,  knowing 
that,  even  among  the  humblest  of  them,  there  are 
many  worthy  of  her  regard  and  aflection.  What 
have  we  to  mourn  in  the  world  wft  have  left  be- 
hind us  ?  We  are  the  last  of  our  name  and  race ; 
fortune  has  left  us  nothing  to  regret.  My  only  re- 
lation on  earth,  saving  yourself,  Roland, — saving 
yourself,  my  cousin,  my  brother," — her  lip  quiver- 
ed, and,  for  a  moment,  her  eyes  were  filled  with 
tears, — "my  only  other  living  relation  resides  in 
this  wilderness-land  ;  and  she,  tenderly  nurtured 
as  myself,  finds  in  it  enough  to  engage  her  tlioughts 
and  secure  her  happiness.  Why,  then,  should  not  I? 
Why  should  not  you?  Trust  me,  dear  Roland,  I 
should  myself  be  as  happy  as  the  day  is  long,  could 
I  only  know  that  you  did  not  grieve  for  me." 

"  I  cannot  but  choose  it,"  said  Roland.  "  It  is 
to  me  you  owe  the  loss  of  fortune  and  your  present 
banishment  from  the  world." 

"  Say  not  so,  Roland,  for  it  is  not  true;  No!  I 
never  can  believe  that  our  poor  uncle  would  have 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  23 

carried  his  resentment,  for  such  a  cause,  so  far. 
But  supposing  that  he  could,  and  granting  that  all 
were  as  you  say,  I  am  prouder  to  be  the  poor 
cousin  of  Roland  Forrester,  who  has  bled  in  the 
battles  of  his  country,  than  if  I  were  the  rich  and 
courted  kinswoman  of  one  who  had  betrayed  the 
memory  of  his  father." 

"  You  are,  at  least,  an  angel ;"  said  the  youth  ; 
"  and  I  am  but  a  villain  to  say  or  do  any  thing  to 
give  you  pain.  Farev/ell  then  to  Fell-hallow,  to 
old  James  River,  and  all!  If  you  can  forget  these 
things,  Edith,  so  will  I;  at  all  events,  I  will  try." 

"Now,"  said  Edith,  "you  talk  like  my  true 
cousin." 

"Well,  Edith,  the  world  is  before  us;  and  shame 
be  upon  me,  if  I,  who  have  health,  strength,  and 
youth  to  back  my  ambition,  cannot  provide  you  a 
refuge  and  a  home.  I  will  leave  you  for  a  while 
in  the  hands  of  this  good  aunt  at  the  Falls;  and 
then,  with  old  Emperor  there  for  my  adjutant,  and 
Sam  for  my  rank  and  file,  I  will  plunge  into  the 
forest,  and  scatter  it  as  I  have  seen  a  band  of  to- 
nes scattered  by  my  old  major,  (who,  by  the  by, 
is  only  three  years  older  than  myself,)  Henry  Lee, 
not  many  years  back.  Then,  when  I  have  built 
me  a  house,  furrowed  my  acres  with  my  martial 
plough-share,  (for  to  that,  it  appears,  my  sword 
must  come,)  and  reaped  my  harvest  with  my  own 
hands,  (it  will  be  hard  w^ork  to  beat  my  horse- 
pistols  into  a  sickle,)  then,  Edith " 

"  Then,  Roland,"  said  the  maiden,  with  a  smile 
and  a  tear,  "  if  you  should  still  remember  your  poor 
cousin,  it  will  not  be  hard  to  persuade  her  to  follow 
you  to  your  retreat,  to  share  your  fortunes  of 
good  and  of  evil,  and  to  love  you  better  in  your 
adversity  than  she  ever  expected  to  love  you  in 
your  prosperity." 


24  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

"Spoken  like  my  true  Edith  I"  said  the  young 
officer,  whose  melancholy  fled  before  her  soft  ac- 
cents, as  the  evil  spirit  of  Saul  before  the  tinklings 
of  the  Jewish  harp, — "spoken  like  my  true  Edith; 
for  whom  I  promise,  if  fate  smile  upon  my  exer- 
tions, to  rear  a  new  Fell-hallow-  on  the  banks  of 
the  Ohio,  in  which  I  will  be,  myself,  the  first  to 
forget  that  on  James  River. — And  now,  Edith, 
let  us  ride  forward  and  meet  yon  gay  looking 
giant,  w^hom,  from  his  bustling  demeanour,  and 
fresh  jerkin,  I  judge  to  be  the  commander  of  the 
Station,  the  redoubtable  Colonel  Bruce  himself" 

As  he  spoke,  the  individual  thus  alluded  to,  se- 
parating himself  from  the  throng,  gallo|)ed  up  to 
the  speaker,  and  displayed  a  person  which  excited 
the  envy  even  of  the  manly-looking  Forrester. 
He  was  a  man  of  at  least  fifty  years,  but  as  hale 
as  one  of  thirty,  without  a  single  gray  hair  to  de- 
form the  beauty  of  his  raven  locks,  which  fell 
down  in  masses  nearly  to  his  shoulders.  His  sta- 
ture was  colossal,  and  the  proportions  of  his  frame 
as  just  as  they  were  gigantic;  so  that  there  was 
much  in  his  appearance  of  real  native  majesty. 
Nothing,  in  fact,  could  be  well  imagined  more 
truly  striking  and  grand  than  his  appearance,  as 
seen  at  the  first  glance;  though  the  second  revealed 
a  lounging  indifference  of  carriage,  amounting,  at 
times,  to  something  like  awkvv^ardness  and  un- 
couthness,  which  a  little  detracted  from  the  ef- 
fect. Such  men  were  oft-times,  in  those  days, 
sent  from  among  the  mountain  counties  of  Vir- 
ginia, to  amaze  the  lesser  mortals  of  the  plains, 
who  regarded  them  as  the  genii  of  the  forest,  and 
almost  looked,  as  was  said  of  the  victor  of  the 
Kenhawa,*  himself  of  the  race,  to  see  the  earth 

*  Gen.  Andrew  Lewis. 


TfiCK  OF  THE  WOODS.  *^5 

tremble  beneath  their  footsteps.  With  a  spirit 
corresponding  to  his  frame,  he  would  have  been 
the  Nimrod,  or  Meleager,  that  he  seemed.  But 
nature  had  long  before  extinguished  the  race  of 
demigods ;  and  the  worthy  Commander  of  the  Sta- 
tion was  not  of  them.  He  was  a  mortal  man, 
distinguished  by  little,  save  his  exterior,  from  other 
mortal  men,  and  from  the  crowd  of  settlers  who 
had  followed  him  from  the  fortress.  He  w^ore,  it 
is  true,  a  new  and  janty  hunting-shirt  of  dressed 
deer-skin,  as  yellow  as  gold,  and  fringed  and  fur- 
belowed  witii  shreds  of  the  same  substance,  dyed  as 
red  as  blood-root  could  make  them;  but  was 
otherwise,  to  the  view,  a  plain  yeoman,  endowed 
with  those  gifts  of  mind  only  which  were  neces- 
sary to  his  station,  but  with  the  virtues  which  are 
alike  common  to  forest  and  city.  Courage  and 
hospitality,  however,  were  then  hardly  accounted 
virtues,  being  too  universal  to  be  distinguished  as 
such ;  and  courtesy  was  equally  native  to  the  in- 
dependent borderer. 

He  shook  the  young  officer  heartily  by  the  hand, 
a  ceremony  which  he  instantly  repeated  with  the 
fair  Edith ;  and  giving  them  to  understand  that 
he  claimed  them  as  his  ow^n  especial  guests,  in- 
sisted, with  much  lionest  warmth,  that  old  compa- 
nionship in  arms  with  one  of  their  late  nearest  and 
dearest  kinsmen  had  given  him  a  double  right  to 
do  so: 

''You  must  know,"  said  he,  "the  good  old  Ma- 
jor, your  uncle,  the  brave  old  Major  Roly,  as 
we  called  him,  Major  Roland  Forrester: — well, 
K'-yaptin, — well,  young  lady, — my  first  battle  war 
fought  under  his  command ;  and  an  excellent 
commander  he  war;  it  war  on  the  bloody  Mo- 
nongahela,  whar  the  Frenchmen  and  Injuns 
trounced  us  so  promiskous.    Perhaps  you've  h'ard 

VOL.  1. — 3 


26  MCK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

him  tell  of  big  Tom  Bruce, — for  so  they  called 
me  then  ?  I  war  a  copporal  in  the  first  company 
of  Rangers  that  crossed  the  river.  Lord!  how 
the  world  is  turning  upside  down !  I  war  a  cop- 
poral then,  and  now  I'm  a  k'-yunnel ;  a  greater 
man  in  commission  than  war  ever  my  old  ^Injor; 
and  the  Lord,  he  knows,  I  thought  my  old  Major 
Forrester  war  the  greatest  man  in  all  Virginee, 
next  to  the  G'-yovernor,  and  K'-yunnel  George 
Washington  !  Well,  you  must  know%  we  marched 
up  the  g'-yully  that  runs  from  the  river  ;  and  bang 
went  the  Savages'  g'-yuns,  and  smash  went  their 
hatchets ;  and  then  it  came  to  close  quarters,  a 
regular,  rough-and-tumble,  hard  scratch!  And  so 
I  war  a-head  of  the  Major,  and  the  Major  war 
behind,  and  the  fight  had  made  him  as  ambitious* 
as  a  wild-cat,  and  he  war  hungry  for  a  shot;  and 
so  says  he  to  me,  for  I  war  right  afore  him,  'Git 
out  of  my  way,  you  damned  big  rascal,  till  I  git  a 
crack  at  'em !'  And  so  I  got  out  of  his  way,  for 
I  war  mad  at  being  called  a  damned  big  rascal, 
especially  as  I  war  doing  my  best,  and  covering 
him  from  mischief  besides.  Well !  as  soon  as  I 
jumped  out  of  his  way,  bang  went  his  piece,  and 
bang  went  another,  let  fly  by  an  Injun ; — down 
went  the  Major,  shot  right  through  the  hips,  slam- 
bang.  And  so  said  I,  '  Major,' — for  I  warn't 
well  over  my  passion, — 'if  you'd  'a'  taken  things 
easy,  I'd  'a'  stopped  that  slug  for  you.'  And  so 
says  he,  'Bang  away,  you  big  fool,  and  don't 
stand  talking.'  And  so  he  swounded  away;  and 
that  made  me  ambitious  too,  and  I  killed  two  of 
the  red  niggurs,  before  you  could  say  Jack  Robin- 
son, just  by  way  of  satisfaction  for  the  Major; 
and  then  I  helped  to  carry  him  off  to  the  tumbrels. 

*  Ambitious, — in  Western  parlance,  vicious. 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  27 

I  never  see'd  my  old  Major  from  that  day  to  this; 
and  it  war  only  a  month  ago  that  I  h'ard  of  his 
death.  I  honour  his  memory :  and  so,  K'-yaptin, 
you  see,  thar's  a  sort  of  claim  to  old  friendship  be- 
tween us." 

To  this  characteristic  speech,  which  was  de- 
livered with  great  earnestness.  Captain  Forrester 
made  a  suitable  response ;  and  intimating  his  will- 
ingness to  accept  the  proffered  hospitality  of  his 
uncle's  companion  in  arms,  he  rode  forward  with 
his  host  and  kinswoman  towards  the  Station,  of 
which,  when  once  fairly  relieved  from  the  forest, 
he  had  a  clear  view. 

It  was  a  quadrangle  of  stout  pickets,  firmly 
driven  into  the  earth,  on  the  brow  of  a  knoll  of 
very  gentle  ascent,  with  a  strong,  though  low 
block-house  at  each  corner ;  and  was  sufficiently 
spacious  to  contain  a  double  row  of  cabins,  be- 
tween which  was  a  vacant  area,  as  well  as  two 
others  betwixt  the  cabins  and  the  stockade;  and 
thus  afforded  shelter  not  only  for  its  defenders  and 
their  families,  but  for  their  cattle  and  horses, 
which  were  always  driven  in,  if  possible,  when  an 
attack  was  apprehended.  A  sense  of  security, 
arising  from  increase  of  numbers,  and  the  absence 
of  hostilities  for  a  long  period,  had  begot  a  con- 
tempt for  the  confined  limits  of  the  stockade;  and 
a  dozen  or  more  of  the  settlers  had  built  their 
cabins  without  the  enclosure,  on  the  slope  of  the 
hill,  which  had  now  assumed  the  appearance  of  a 
village;  though  one,  it  must  be  confessed,  of  ex- 
ceedingly rude  and  primitive  appearance.  The 
houses  were,  in  every  instance,  of  logs,  even  to 
the  chimneys ;  which  being,  therefore,  of  a  com- 
bustible temper,  notwithstanding  the  goodly  daub- 
ing of  clay  with  which  they  were  plastered,  were 
made  to  incline  outwards  from  the  perpendicular, 


28  XICK  or  THE  WOODS. 

so  as  to  be  dclaclied  from  the  building  iiself,  a.^ 
they  rose.  By  this  arrangement,  the  dangers  of  a 
conflagration  were  guarded  against ;  for  when  the 
burning  of  the  chimney  involved,  as  doubtless  it 
often  did.  tiic  wooden  materials  of  the  chimney 
itself,  it  was  easy  to  tear  it  down,  before  the  flames 
communicated  to  the  cabin. 

Such  was  the  appearance  of  a  fortified  settle- 
ment, at  that  time,  one  of  the  most  prominent  of 
all  the  Stations  in  Kentucky;  and  when  we  repeat 
that  the  forest  had  vanished  in  its  immediate 
vicinity,  to  make  way  for  rich  fields  of  corn, — 
that  divers  great  gaps  were,  at  a  distance,  seen  in 
its  massive  green  walls,  where  the  tall  oaks  and 
walnuts,  girdled  and  leafless,  but  not  yet  fallen>, 
admitted  the  sunshine  upon  other  crops  as  rich 
and  as  verdant, — and  that  all  beyond  and  around 
was  a  dark  and  solemn  wilderness,  the  tree-top 
aloft  and  tlie  cane-brake  below,  we  have  a  pro])er 
idea  of  the  aspect  and  condition  of  the  lonely 
strongholds,  which  succeeding  years  saw  changed 
into  towns  and  villages. 

The  Station  seemed  unusually  populous,  as,  ii:.- 
deed,  it  was;  but  Roland,  as  he  rode  by,  remarked, 
on  the  skirts  of  the  village,  a  dozen  or  more  shoot- 
ing-targets set  up  on  the  green,,  and  perceived  it 
was  a  gala-day  which  had  drawn  the  young  men 
from  a  distance  to  the  fort.  Th-is,  in  fact,  he  was 
speedily  told  by  a  youth,  wliom  the  worthy  Bruce 
introduced  to  him  as  his  oldest  son  and  namesake, 
'big  Tom  Bruce^ — the  third  of  that  name;  the 
other  two  Toms, — for  two  others  he  had  had, — 
having  been  killed  by  the  Injuns,  and  he  having 
changed  the  boy's  name,  that  he  might  have  a 
Tom  in  the  family.*  The  youth  was  worthy  of  his 
father,  being  full  six  feet  high,  though  scarcely 
yet  out  of  his  teens,  and  presented  a  visage  ot 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  29 

such  serene  gravity  and  good-humoured  simpUcity, 
as  won  the  affections  of  the  soldier  in  a  moment. 

"  Thar's  a  boy  now,  the  brute,"  said  Colonel 
Bruce,  sending  him  off  to  assist  in  the  distribution  of 
the  guests  among  the  settlers,  "  that  comes  of  the 
best  stock  for  loving  women  and  fighting  Injuns 
in  all  Kentucky!  And  so,  captain,  if  young  madam, 
your  sister  h'yar,  is  for  picking  a  husband  out  of 
Kentuck,  I'll  say  it,  and  stand  to  it,  thar's  not  a 
better  lad  to  be  found  than  Tom  Bruce,  if  you 
hunt  the  District  all  over.  You'd  scarce  believe 
it,  mom,"  he  continued,  addressing  Edith  her- 
self, "  but  the  young  brute  did  actually  take  the 
scalp  of  a  full  grown  Shawnee,  before  he  war 
fourteen  y'ar  old,  and  that  in  fa'r  fight,  whar  thar 
war  none  to  help  him.  The  way  of  it  war  this: 
Tom  war  out  in  the  range,  looking  for  a  neigh- 
bour's horse;  when  what  should  he  see  but  two 
great  big  Shawnees  astride  of  the  identicular 
beast  he  war  hunting!  Away  went  Tom,  and 
away  went  the  bloody  villians  hard  after,  one  of 
'em  afoot,  the  other  on  the  horse.  'Now,'  said  Tom, 
'  this  won't  do,  no  how;'  and  so  he  let  fly  at  the 
mounted  feller  ;  but  being  a  little  skeary,  as  how 
could  he  help  it,  the  young  brute,  being  the  first 
time  he  ever  banged  at  an  Injun,  he  hit  the  horse, 
which  dropped  down  in  a  flurry;  and  away  comes 
the  red  devil  over  his  head,  like  a  rocket,  eend  on  to  a 
saphng.  Up  jumps  Tom  and  picks  up  the  Injun's 
gun;  and  bang  goes  the  other  Shaw^nee  at  him,  and 
jumps  to  a  tree.  '  A  bird  in  the  hand,'  said  Tom, 
'  is  worth  two  in  a  bush;'  and  with  that,  he  blows 
out  the  first  feller's  brains,  just  as  he  is  gitting  up, 
and  runs  into  the  fort,  hard  chased  by  the  other. 
And  then  to  see  the  feller,  when  I  asked  him  w4iy 
he  did  n't  shoot  the  Injun  that  had  fired  at  him, 
and  so  make  sure  of  both,  the  other  beinff  in  a 
3* 


30  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS- 

sort  of  swound-like  from  tlie  tmiible,  and  ready  to 
be  knocked  on  the  head  at  any  moment?  *  Lord!* 
said  Tom.  '  I  never  tliought  of  it»  I  war  such  a 
fool!'  and  with  that  he  blubbered  all  night,  to 
think  he  had  not  killed  them  both.  Howsomever,  I 
war  always  of  opinion  that  what  he  had  done  war 
good  work  for  a  boy  of  fourteen. — But,  come  now, 
my  lovely  young  mom;  we  are  entering  the 
Station.  May  you  never  enter  a  house  where  you 
are  less  welcome." 


MCK  OF  THE  WOODS.  31 


CHAPTER  II. 


Men  and  boys  had  rushed  from  the  fortress 
together,  to  greet  the  new  comers,  and  few  re- 
mained save  the  women;  of  whom  not  a  few% 
particularly  of  the  younger  individuals,  were  as 
eager  to  satisfy  their  curiosity  as  their  fathers 
and  brothers.  The  disorderly  spirit  had  spread 
even  among  the  daughters  of  the  commandant,  to 
the  great  concern  of  his  spouse  ;  who,  although 
originally  of  a  degree  somewhat  humbler  even 
than  his  own,  had  a  much  more  elevated  sense  of 
the  dignity  of  his  commission  as  a  colonel  of  mi- 
litia, and  a  due  consciousness  of  the  necessity  of 
adapting  her  manners  to  her  rank.  She  stood  on 
the  porch  of  her  cabin,  which  had  the  merit  of 
being  larger  than  any  other  in  the  fort,  maintain- 
ing order  among  some  half  dozen  or  more  lasses, 
the  oldest  scarce  exceeding  seventeen,  whom  she 
endeavoured  to  range  in  a  row,  to  receive  the 
expected  guests  in  state,  though  every  moment 
some  one  or  other  might  be  seen  edging  away 
from  her  side,  as  if  in  the  act  of  deserting  her 
altogether. 

"  Out  on  you,  you  flirting  critturs '/'  said  she, 
her  indignation  provoked,  and  her  sense  of  pro- 
priety shocked  by  such  unworthy  behaviour : — 
"  Stop  thar,  you  Nell  !  w^har  you  going  ?  You 
Sally,  you  Phcebe,  you  Jane,  and  the  rest  of  you! 
ha'nt  you  no  better  idea  of  what's  manners  for  a 
Gunnel's  daughters'?    ,  I'm  ashamed  of  you, — to 


32  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

run  ramping  and  tearing  after  the  strannge  men 
thar,  like  tom-boys,  or  any  common  person's 
daughters  !  Laws  !  do  remember  your  father's  a 
Cunnel  in  the  mihshy,  and  set  down  in  the  porch 
here  on  the  bencli,  like  genteel  young  ladies ;  or 
stand  up,  if  you  like  that  better,  and  wait  till  your 
father,  Cunnel  Bruce  that  is,  brings  up  the  cap- 
tains: one  of  'em  's  a  rale  army  captain,  with 
epaulets  and  broad-sword,  with  a  chance  of 
money,  and  an  uncommon  handsome  sister, — rale 
genteel  people  from  old  Virginnee :  and  I'm  glad 
of  it, — it's  so  seldom  you  sees  any  body  but  com- 
mon persons  come  to  Kentucky.  Do  behave 
yourselves:  thar's  Telle  Doe  thar  at  the  loci-in 
don't  think  so  much  as  turning  her  eyes  around  ; 
she's  a  pattern  for  you." 

"  Law,  mother !"  said  the  eldest  of  the  daugh- 
ters, bridling  with  disdain,  *'  I  reckon  I  know  how 
to  behave  myself  as  well  as  Tclic  Doe,  or  any 
other  girl  in  the  settlement ;" — a  declaration 
echoed  and  re-echoed  by  her  sisters,  all  of  whom 
bent  their  eyes  towards  a  corner  of  the  ample 
porch,  where,  busied  with  a  rude  loom,  fashioned 
perhaps  by  the  axe  and  knife  of  the  militia  colonel 
himself,  on  which  she  was  weaving  a  coarse  cloth 
from  the  fibres  of  the  flax-nettle,  sat  a  female 
somewhat  younger  than  the  oldest  of  the  sisters, 
and  doubtless  of  a  more  humble  degree,  as  was 
shown  by  the  labour  in  which  she  was  engaged, 
while  the  others  seemed  to  enjoy  a  holyday,  and 
by  her  coarse  brown  garments,  worn  at  a  moment 
when  the  fair  Bruces  were  flaunting  in  their  best 
bibs  and  tuckers,  the  same  having  been  put  on  not 
more  in  honour  of  the  exiles,  whose  coming  had 
been  announced  the  day  before,  than  out  of  com- 
pliment to  the  young  men  of  the  settlement,  who 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  33 

were  wont  to  assemble  on  such  occasions  to 
gather  the  latest  news  from  the  States. 

The  pattern  of  good  manners  thus  referred  to, 
was  as  unconscious  of  the  compliment  bestowed 
upon  her  by  the  worthy  Mrs.  Bruce  as  of  the 
glances  of  disdain  it  drew  from  the  daughters, 
being  apparently  at  that  moment  too  much  occu- 
pied with  her  work  to  think  of  any  thing  else; 
nor  did  she  lift  up  her  eyes  until,  the  conversation 
having  been  resumed  between  the  mother  and 
daughters,  one  of  the  latter  demanded  '  what  was 
the  name  of  that  army  captain,  that  was  so  rich 
and  great,  of  whom  her  mother  had  been  talking?* 

"Captain  Roland  Forrester,"  replied  the  latter; 
at  the  sound  of  which  name  the  maiden  at  the 
loom  started  and  looked  up  with  an  air  of  fright, 
that  caused  exceeding  diversion  among  the  others. 
"  Look  at  Telle  Doe !"  they  cried,  laughing  :  "  you 
can't  speak  above  your  breath  but  she  thinks  you 
are  speaking  to  her ;  and,  sure,  you  can't  speak  to 
her,  but  she  looks  as  if  she  would  jump  out  of  her 
skin,  and  run  away  for  her  dear  life !" 

And  so,  indeed,  the  girl  did  appear  for  a  mo- 
ment, looking  as  wild  and  terrified  as  the  animal 
whose  name  she  bore,  when  the  first  bay  of  the 
deer-hound  startles  her  in  the  deep  woodland  pas- 
tures, roUing  her  eyes,  catching  her  breath  con- 
vulsively, shivering,  and,  in  short,  betraying  a 
degree  of  agitation  that  would  have  appeared 
unaccountable  to  a  stranger ;  though,  as  it  caused 
more  amusement  than  surprise  among  the  merry 
Bruces,  it  was  but  fair  to  suppose  that  it  sprung 
from  constitutional  nervousness,  or  the  sudden 
interruption  of  her  meditations.  As  she  started 
np  in  her  confusion,  rolling  her  eyes  from  one 
laughing  maiden  to  another,  her  very  trepida- 
tion imparted  an  interest  to  her  features,  which 


34  MCK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

were  in  themselves  pretty  enoiigli,  though  not  so 
much  so  as  to  attract  observation,  when  in  a  state 
of  rest.  Then  it  was  that  the  observer  might  see, 
or  fancy  he  saw,  a  world  of  latent  expression  in 
her  wild  dark  eyes,  and  trace  the  workings  of 
a  quick  and  sensitive  spirit,  whose  existencewould 
have  been  otiierwise  unsuspected,  in  the  tremu- 
lous movement  of  her  lips.  And  then,  too,  one 
might  have  been  struck  with  the  exquisite  contour 
of  a  slight  figure,  which  even  the  coarse  gar- 
ments, spun,  and  perhaps  shaped,  by  her  own 
hands,  could  not  entirely  conceal.  At  such  times 
of  excitement,  there  was  something  in  her  ap- 
pearance both  striking  and  singular, — Indian-like, 
one  might  almost  have  said.  Such  an  epithet 
might  have  been  borne  out  by  the  wildness  of  her 
looks,  the  darkness  of  her  eyes,  the  simple  ar- 
rangement of  her  coal-black  hair,  which,  instead 
of  being  confined  by  conib  or  fillet,  was  twisted 
round  a  thorn  cut  from  the  nearest  locust-tree, 
and  by  the  smallness  of  her  stature ;  though  the 
lightness  and  European  tinge  of  her  complexion 
must  have  instantly  disproved  the  idea. 

Her  discomposure  dispelled  from  the  bosoms  of 
her  companions  all  the  little  resentment  produced 
by  the  matron's  invidious  comparison;  and  each 
now  did  her  best  to  increase  it  by  cries  of,  "Jump, 
Telie,  the  Indians  will  catch  you!"  *' Take  care, 
Telie,  Tom  Bruce  will  kiss  you!"  "Run,  Telie, 
the  dog  will  bite  you !"  and  other  expressions  of  a 
like  alarming  nature,  which,  if  they  did  not  aug- 
ment her  terror,  divided  and  distracted  her  atten- 
tion, till,  quite  bewildered,  she  stared  now  on  one, 
now  on  the  other,  and  at  each  mischievous  as- 
sault, started,  and  trembled,  and  gasped  for  breath, 
in  inexpressible  confusion.  It  was  fortunate  for 
her  that  this  species  of  baiting,  which,  from  the 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  35 

spirit  and  skill  with  which  her  youthful  tormen- 
tors pursued  it,  seemed  no  uncommon  infliction, 
the  reforming  mother  considered  to  be,  at  least  at 
that  particular  moment,  unworthy  the  daughters 
of  a  colonel  in  the  militia. 

"  Do  behave  yourselves,  you  ungenteel  critturs," 
said  she ;  "  Phoebe  Bruce,  you're  old  enough  to 
know  better ;  don't  expose  yourself  before  strann- 
gers.  Thar  they  come  now;  thar's  Gunnel  Bruce 
that  is,  talking  to  Captain  Forrester  that  is,  and 
a  right-down  soldier-looking  captain  he  is,  too.  I 
wonder  whar's  his  cocked  hat,  and  feather,  and 
goold  epaulets?  Thar's  his  big  broad-sword, 
and — but.  Lord  above  us,  ar'nt  his  sister  a  beauty! 
Any  man  in  Kentucky  will  be  proud  of  her;  but, 
1  warrant  me,  she'll  take  to  nothing  under  a  cun- 
nel !" 

The  young  misses  ceased  their  sport  to  stare  at 
the  strangers,  and  even  Telle  Doe,  pattern  of  pro- 
priety as  she  was,  had  no  sooner  recovered  her 
equanimity  than  she  turned  her  eyes  from  the 
loom  and  bent  them  eagerly  upon  the  train  now 
entering  through  the  main  gate,  gazing  long  and 
earnestly  upon  the  young  captain  and  the  fair 
Edith,  who,  with  the  colonel  of  militia,  and  a 
fourth  individual,  parted  from  it,  and  rode  up  to 
the  porch.  The  fourth  person,  a  sober  and  sub- 
stantial-looking borderer,  in  a  huge  blanket-coat 
and  slouched  hat,  the  latter  stuck  round  with 
bucks'  tails,  was  the  nominal  captain  of  the  party. 
He  conversed  a  moment  with  Forrester  and  the 
commandant,  and  then,  being  given  in  charge  by 
the  latter  to  his  son  Tom,  who  was  hallooed  from 
the  crowd  for  this  purpose,  he  rode  away,  leaving 
the  colonel  to  do  the  honours  to  his  second  in 
command.  These  the  colonel  executed  with  much 
courtesy  and  gallantry,  if  not  with  grace,  leaping 


36  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

from  his  horse  with  unexpected  activity,  and  as- 
sisting Edith  to  dismount,  which  he  effected  hy 
takinir  her  in  his  arms  and  whisking  her  from  the 
saddle  with  as  little  apparent  eifort  as  though  he 
were  handling  an  infant. 

"Welcome,  my  beautiful  young  lady,"  said  he, 
giving  her  another  hearty  shake  of  the  hand : 
"  H'yar's  a  house  that  shall  shelter  you  ;  though 
thar's  not  much  can  be  said  of  it,  except  that  it  is 
safe  and  wholesome.  H'yar's  my  old  lady  too,  and 
my  daughters,  that  will  make  much  of  you;  and 
as  for  my  sons,  thar's  not  a  brute  of  'em  that 
won't  fight  for  you ;  but  th'  ar'  all  busy  stowing 
away  the  strangers;  and,  I  reckon,  they  think  it 
ar'nt  manners  to  show  themselves  to  a  vouno- 
lady,  while  she's  making  acquaintance  with  the 
women." 

With  that  the  gallant  colonel  presented  the  fair 
stranger  to  his  wile  and  daughters,  the  latter  of 
whom,  a  little  daunted  at  first  by  her  appearance, 
as  a  being  superior  in  degree  to  the  ordinary 
race  of  mortals,  but  quickly  re-assured  by  her 
frank  and  easy  deportment,  loaded  her  with  ca- 
resses, and  carried  her  into  the  house,  to  improve 
the  few  hours  allowed  to  make  her  acquaintance, 
and  to  assist  her  in  changing  her  apparel,  for 
which  the  means  were  furnished  from  sundry  bags 
and  packages,  that  the  elder  of  the  two  negro- 
men,  the  only  immediate  followers  of  her  kins- 
men, took  from  the  back  of  a  pack-horse.  The 
mother  of  the  Bruces  thought  it  advisable  to 
follow  them,  to  see,  perhaps,  in  person,  that  they 
conducted  themselves  towards  their  guest  as  a 
colonel's  daughter  should. 

None  of  the  females  remained  on  the  porch 
save  Telie,  the  girl  of  the  loom,  who,  too  humble 
or  too  timid  to  seek  the  acquaintance  of  the  stran- 


I 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  37 

ger  lady,  like  the  others,  had  been  overlooked  in 
the  bustle,  and  now  pursued  her  labour  with  but 
little  notice  from  tFiose  who  remained. 

'*  And  now,  colonel,"  said  the  young  officer,  de* 
dining  the  offer  of  refreshments  made  by  his  host, 
**  allow  me,  like  a  true  soldier,  to  proceed  to  the 
business  with  which  you  heard  our  commander, 
Major  Johnson,  charge  me.  To-morrow  we  re- 
sume our  journey  to  the  Falls.  I  should  gladly 
myself,  for  Miss  Forrester's  sake,  consent  to  re- 
main with  you  a  few  days,  to  recruit  our  strength 
a  little.  But  that  cannot  be.  Our  men  are  re- 
solved to  push  on  without  delay;  and  as  I  have  no 
authority  to  restrain  them,  I  must  e'en  accompany 
them." 

"  Well,"  said  Colonel  Bruce,  "  if  it  must  be,  it 
must,  and  I'm  not  the  brute  to  say  No  to  you.  But 
lord,  captain,  I  should  be  glad  to  have  you  stay  a 
month  or  two,  war  it  only  to  have  a  long  talk 
about  my  old  friend,  the  brave  old  major.  And 
thar's  your  sister,  captain, — lord,  sir,  she  would 
be  the  pet  of  the  family,  and  would  help  my  wife 
teach  the  girls  manners.  Lord!"  he  continued, 
laughing,  "  you  've  no  idea  what  grand  notions 
have  got  into  the  old  woman's  head  about  the  way 
of  behaving,  ever  since  it  war  that  the  Governor 
of  Virginnie  sent  me  a  cunnel's  commission.  She 
thinks  I  ought  to  w'ar  a  cocked  hat  and  goold 
swabs,  and  put  on  a  blue  coat  instead  of  a  leather 
shirt:  but  I  wonder  how  soon  I'd  see  the  end  of  it, 
out  h'yar  in  the  bushes?  And  then,  as  for  the 
girls,  why  thar  's  no  end  of  the  lessons  she  gives 
them; — and  thar  's  my  Jenny, — that 's  the  young- 
est,— came  blubbering  up  the  other  day,  saying, 
*  she  believed  mother  intended  even  to  stop  their 
licking  at  the  sugar-troughs,  she  was  gitting  so 

VOL.  I. — 4 


38  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

great  and  so  proud  I'  Howsomcvcr,  women  will 
be  w^omen,  and  thar  's  the  end  of  it/' 

To  this  philosophic  remark  the  officer  of  infe- 
rior degree  bowed  acquiescence,  and  recalUng  liis 
host's  attention  to  the  subject  of  most  interest  to 
himself,  requested  to  be  informed  what  difficulties 
or  dangers  might  be  appreliended  on  the  further 
route  to  the  Falls  of  Oliio. 

"  Why,  none  on  'arth  that  1  know  of,"  said 
Bruce;  "  you  've  as  cl'ar  and  broad  a  trace  before 
you  as  man  and  beast  could  make — abutialo-street* 
through  the  canes;  and,  when  thar's  open  woods, 
blazes  as  thick  as  stars,  and  horse-tracks  still 
thicker:  thar  war  more  than  a  thousand  settlers 
have  travelled  it  this  year  already.  As  for  dann- 
gers,  captain,  why  I  reckon  thar's  none  to  think 
on.  Thar  war  a  good  chance  of  whooping  and 
howling  about  Bear's  Grass,  last  year,  and  some 
hard  fighting;  but  I  h'ar  nothing  of  Injuns  thar 
this  y'ar.  But  you  leave  some  of  your  people 
h'yar :  what  force  do  you  tote  down  to  the  Falls 
to-morrow?" 

"Twenty-seven  guns  in  all;  but  several  quite 
too  young  to  face  an  enemy." 

"  Thar  's  no  trusting  to  years,  in  a  matter  of 
fighting!"  said  the  Kentuckian.  "  Thar's  my  son 
Tom,  that  killed  his  brute  at  fourteen;  but,  I  re- 
member, I  told  you  that  story.  Ilowsomever,  I 
hold  thar's  no  Injuns  on  the  road;  and  if  you 
should  meet  any,  why,  it  will  be  down  about 
Bear's  Grass,  or  the  Forks  of  Salt,  w^har  you  can 
keep  your  eyes  open,  and  whar  the  settlements  are 
so  thick,  it  is  easy  taking  cover.  No,  no,  captain, 
the  fighting  this  year  is  all  on  the  north  side  of 
Kentucky." 

*  The  bison-paths,  when  very  broad,  were  often  tlius 
called. 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  39 

"  Yet,  I  believe,"  said  Roland,  "  there  have  been 
no  troubles  there  since  the  defeat  of  Captain  Estill 
on  Little  Mountain,  and  of  Holder  at  that  place, 
— w^hat  do  you  call  it?" 

"Upper  Blue  Licks  of  Licking,"  said  Bruce; 
"  and  war'nt  they  troubles  enough  for  a  season? 
Two  Kentucky  captains  (and  one  of  them  a  south- 
side  man,  too,)  whipped  in  fa'r  fight,  and  by  no- 
thing better  than  brutish  Injuns!" 

"  They  were  sad  affairs,  indeed;  and  the  num- 
bers of  white  men  murdered  made  them  still  more 
shocking." 

"  The  murdering,"  said  the  gallant  Colonel 
Bruce,  "  is  nothing,  sir:  it  is  the  shame  of  the 
thumping  that  makes  one  feel  ambitious;  thar's 
the  thing  no  Kentuckian  can  stand,  sir.  To  be 
murdered,  whar  thar's  ten  Injuns  to  one  white 
man,  is  nothing;  but  whar  it  comes  to  being 
trounced  by  equal  numbers,  why  thar's  the  thing 
not  to  be  tolerated.  Howsomever,  captain,  we're 
no  w^orse  off  in  Kentucky  than  our  neighbours. 
Thar's  them  five  hundred  Pennsylvanians,  that 
went  out  in  June,  under  old  Cunnel  Crawford  from 
Pittsburg,  agin  the  brutes  of  Sandusky,  war 
more  ridiculously  whipped  by  old  Captain  Pipe, 
the  Delaware,  thar's  no  denying." 

"  What!"  said  Roland,  "  was  Crawford's  com- 
pany beaten?" 

"Beaten!"  said  the  Kentuckian,  opening  his 
eyes;  "  cut  off  the  h,  and  say  the  savages  made  a 
dinner  of  'em,  and  you'll  be  nearer  the  true  his- 
tory of  the  matter.  It's  but  two  months  ago;  and 
so  I  suppose  the  news  of  the  affa'r  had  n't  got 
into  East  Virginnie  when  you  started.  Well,  cap- 
tain, the  long  and  short  of  it  is, — the  cunnel  war 
beaten  and  exterminated,  and  that  on  a  hard  run 
from  the  fight  he  had  hunted  hard  after.  How  many 


40  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS-. 

ever  got  back  safe  again  to  Pittsburg,  I  never 
could  rightly  h'ar;  but  what  I  know  is,  that  thar 
war  dozens  of  prisoners  beaten  to  death  by  the 
squaws  and  children,  and  that  old  Gunnel  Craw- 
ford himself  war  put  to  the  double  torture  and 
roasted  alive;  and,  I  reckon,  if  he  war'nt  eaten,  it 
war  only  because  he  war  too  old  to  be  tender/' 

"Horrible!"  said  the  young  soldier,,  muttering, 
half  to  himself,  though  not  in  tones  so  low  but 
that  the  Kentuckian  caught  their  import;  "  and  I 
must  expose  my  poor  Edith  to  fall  into  the  power 
of  such  fiends  and  monsters!" 

"  Ay,  captain,"  said  Bruce,  "  thar's  the  thing 
that  sticks  most  in  the  heart  of  them  that  live  in 
the  wilderness  and  have  wives  and  daughters; — to- 
think  of  their  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  brutes, 
who  murder  and  scalp  a  woman  just  as  readily  as 
a  man.  As  to  their  torturing  them,  that's  not  so 
certaiir^,  but  the  brutes  are  n't  a  bit  too  good  for 
it ;  and  I  did  h'ar  of  their  burning  one  poor  wo- 
man at  Sandusky.*  But  now,  captain^  if  you  are 
anxious  to  have  the  young  lady,  your  sister,  in 
safety,  h'yar'^s  the  place  to  stick  up  your  tent- 
poles,  h'yar  in  this  very  settlement,  whar  the  In- 
juns never  trouble  us,  never  coming  within  ten 
miles  of  us.  Thar's  as  good  land  here  as  on 
Bear's  Grass;  and  we  shall  be  glad  of  your  com- 
pany. It  is  not  often  we  have  a  rich  man  to  take 
luck  among  us.  Howsomever,  I  won't  deceive 
you,  if  you  will  go  to  the  Ohio;  I  hold,  thar's  no 
danger  on  the  trace  for  either  man  or  woman." 

'•  My  good  friend/'  said  Roland,  "  you  seem  to 

*  The  worthy  Kentuckian  was  perhaps  mistaken.  A 
female  captive  from  Pittshurg  was  however  actually  bound 
to  the  stake  near  the  Sandusky  villages,  and  rescued  with 
difficulty  by  British  traders.  But  this  happened  in  171^0* 
eight  years  after  the  date  of  our  story. 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  41 

labour  under  two  errors  in  respect  to  me,  which 
it  is  fitting  I  should  correct.  In  the  first  place,  the 
lady  whom  you  have  several  times  called,  I  know 
not  why,  my  sister,  claims  no  such  near  relation- 
ship, being  only  my  cousin." 

"  Why,  sure!"  said  the  colonel,  "  some  one  told 
me  so,  and  thar's  a  strong  family  likeness." 

"  There  should  be,"  said  the  youth,  "  since  our 
fathers  were  twin  brothers,  and  resembled  each 
other  in  all  particulars,  in  body,  in  mind,  and,  as 
I  may  say,  in  fortune.  They  were  alike  in  their 
lives,  alike  also  in  their  deaths  :  they  fell  together, 
struck  down  by  the  same  cannon-ball,  at  the 
bombardment  of  Norfolk,  seven  years  ago." 

"  May  I  never  see  a  scalp,"  said  the  Kentuckian, 
warmly  grasping  the  young  man's  hand,  "  if  I 
don't  honour  you  the  more  for  boasting  such  a 
father  and  such  uncles !  You  come  of  the  true 
stock,  captain,  thar's  no  denying ;  and  my  brave 
old  major's  estates  have  fallen  into  the  right 
hands;  for,  if  thar's  any  believing  the  news  the 
last  band  of  emigrants  brought  of  you  here,  thar 
war  no  braver  officer  in  Lee's  corps,  nor  in  the 
whole  Virginnie  line,  than  young  Captain  Forres- 
ter." 

"  Here,"  said  Roland,  looking  as  if  what  he  said 
cost  him  a  painful  effort,  "  lies  the  second  error, — 
your  considering  me,  as  you  manifestly  do,  the 
heir  of  your  old  major,  my  uncle  Roland, — which 
I  am  noV^ 

"  Lord  !"  said  the  worthy  Bruce,  "  he  was  the 
richest  man  in  Prince-George,  and  he  had  thou- 
sands of  fat  acres  in  the  Valley,  the  best  in  all 
Fincastle,  as  I  know  very  well,  for  I  war  a  Fin- 
castle  man  myself;  and  thar  war  my  old  friend 
Braxley, — he  war  a  lieutenant  under  the  major  at 
Braddock's,  and  afterwards  his  steward,  and  man- 
4* 


42  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

ger,  and  lawyer-like, — w  lio  used  to  come  over  the 
Ridge,  to  see  after  them.  But  I  see  how  it  is;  he 
left  all  to  the  young  lady  ?'' 

"  Not  an  acre,"  said  Roland. 

"  What !"  said  the  Kentuckian :  ''  he  left  no 
children  of  his  own.     Who  then  is  the  heir?'' 

''  Your  old  friend,  as  you  called  him,  Richard 
Braxley. — And  hence  you  see,"  continued  the 
youth,  as  if  desirous  to  change  the  conversation, 
"  that  I  come  to  Kentucky,  an  adventurer  and 
fortune-hunter,  like  other  emigrants,  to  locate 
lands  under  proclamation-warrants  and  bounty- 
grants,  to  fell  trees,  raise  corn,  shoot  bisons  and 
Indians,  and,  in  general,  to  do  any  thing  else  that 
can  be  required  of  a  good  Virginian  or  good  Ken- 
tuckian." 

It  was  evidently  the  captain's  wish  now  to  leave 
altogether  the  subject  on  which  he  had  thought  it 
incumbent  to  acquaint  his  host  with  so  much ;  but 
the  worthy  Bruce  was  not  so  easily  satisfied;  and 
not  conceiving  there  was  any  peculiar  impro- 
priety in  indulging  curiosity  in  matters  relating  to 
his  old  major,  however  distasteful  that  curiosity 
might  prove  to  his  guest,  he  succeeded  in  drawling 
from  the  reluctant  young  man  many  more  par- 
ticulars of  his  story ;  which,  as  they  have  an  im- 
portant connexion  with  the  events  it  is  our  object 
to  narrate,  we  must  be  pardoned  for  briefly  no- 
ticing. 

Major  Roland  Forrester,  the  uncle  and  god- 
father of  the  young  soldier,  and  the  representative 
of  one  of  the  most  ancient  and  aflluent  families 
on  James  River,  (for  by  this  trivial  name  Vir- 
ginians are  content  to  designate  the  noble  Poy> 
hatan,)  was  the  eldest  of  three  brothers,  of  w^hom 
the  two  younger,  as  was  often  the  case  under  the 
ancien  rSgime  in  Virginia,  were  left,  at  the  death 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS,  43 

of  their  parent,  to  shift  for  themselves ;  while  the 
eldest  son  inherited  the  undivided  princely  estate 
of  his  ancestors.  This  was  at  the  period  when 
that  contest  of  principle  with  power,  which  finally 
resulted  in  the  separation  of  the  American  Colo- 
nies from  the  parent  State,  first  began  to  agitate 
the  minds  of  the  good  planters  of  Virginia,  in 
common  with  the  people  of  all  the  other  colonies. 
Men  had  already  begun  to  take  sides,  in  feeling, 
as  in  argument;  and,  as  usual,  interest  had,  no 
doubt,  its  full  share  in  directing  and  confirming 
tlie  predilections  of  individuals.  These  circum- 
stances,— the  regular  succession  of  the  eldest-born 
to  the  paternal  estate,  and  the  necessity  imposed 
on  the  others  of  carving  out  their  own  fortunes, — 
had,  perhaps,  their  influence  in  determining  the 
political  bias  of  the  brothers,  and  preparing  them 
for  contention,  when  the  increase  of  party  feeling 
and  the  clash  of  interests  between  the  govern- 
ment abroad  and  the  colonies  at  home,  called  upon 
all  men  to  avow  their  principles  and  take  their 
stands.  It  was  as  natural  that  the  one  should  re- 
tain affection  and  reverence  for  the  institutions 
which  had  made  him  rich  and  distinguished,  as 
that  the  younger  brothers,  who  had  suffered  under 
them  a  deprivation  of  their  natural  rights,  should 
declare  for  a  system  of  government  and  laws 
more  liberal  and  equitable  in  their  character  and 
operation.  At  all  events,  and  be  the  cause  of  dif- 
ference what  it  might,  when  the  storm  of  the  Re- 
volution burst  over  the  land,  the  brothers  were 
found  arrayed  on  opposite  sides,  the  two  younger, 
the  fathers  of  Roland  and  Edith,  instantly  taking 
up  arms  in  the.  popular  cause,  while  nothing, 
perhaps,  but  helpless  feebleness  and  bodily  in- 
firmities, the  results  of  wounds  received  in  Brad- 
dock's  war,  throughout  which  he  had  fought  at 


44  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

the  head  of  a  battahon  of  "  Buckskhis/'  or  Vir- 
ginia Rangers,  prevented  the  elder  brother  from 
arming  as  zealously  in  the  cause  of  his  king. 
Fierce,  uncompromising,  and  vindictive,  however, 
in  his  temper,  he  never  forgave  his  brothers  the 
bold  and  active  pari  they  both  took  in  the  contest; 
and  it  was  his  resentment,  perhaps,  more  than  na- 
tural affection  for  his  neglected  offspring,  that 
caused  him  to  defeat  his  brothers'  hopes  of  suc- 
cession to  his  estates,  (he  being  himself  unmar- 
ried,) by  executing  a  will  in  favour  of  an  illegiti- 
mate child,  an  infant  daughter,  whom  he  drew 
from  concealment  and  acknowledged  as  his  off- 
spring. This  child,  however,  was  soon  removed, 
having  been  burned  to  death  in  the  house  of  its 
foster-mother.  But  its  decease  effected  little  or  no 
change  in  his  feelings  towards  his  brothers ;  who, 
pursuing  the  principles  they  had  so  early  avowed, 
were  among  the  first  to  take  arms  among  the  pa- 
triots of  Virginia,  and  fell,  as  Roland  had  said,  at 
Norfolk,  leaving  each  an  orphan  child,  Roland 
then  a  youth  of  fifteen,  and  Edith  a  child  of  ten, 
to  the  mercy  of  the  elder  brother.  Their  death 
effected  what  perhaps  their  prayers  never  would 
have  done.  The  stern  loyalist  took  the  orphans 
to  his  bosom,  cherished  and  loved  them,  or  at  least 
appeared  to  do  so,  and  often  avowed  his  intention 
to  make  them  his  heirs.  But  it  was  Roland's  ill 
fate  to  provoke  his  ire,  as  Roland's  father  had 
done  before  him.  The  death  of  that  father,  one 
of  the  earliest  martyrs  to  liberty,  had  created  in 
his  youthful  mind  a  strong  abhorrence  of  every 
thing  British  and  loyal;  and  after  presuming  a 
dozen  times  or  more  to  disclose  and  defend  his 
hatred,  he  put  the  coping-stone  to  his  audacity,  by 
suddenly  leaving  his  uncle's  house,  two  years  after 
he  had  been  received  into  it,  and  galloping  away, 


NICK  OF  THE   WOODS.  45 

a  cornet  in  one  of  the  companies  of  the  first  regi- 
ment of  horse  which  Virginia  sent  to  the  armies 
of  Congress.  He  never  more  saw  his  uncle.  He 
cared  little  for  his  wrath,  or  its  effects ;  if  disin- 
herited himself,  it  pleased  his  imagination  to  think 
he  had  enriched  his  gentle  cousin.  But  his  uncle 
carried  his  resentment  further  than  he  had  dream- 
ed, or  indeed  any  one  else  who  had  beheld  the 
show  of  affection  he  continued  to  the  orphan 
Edith,  up  to  the  last  moment  of  his  existence.  He 
died  in  October  of  the  preceding  year,  a  week  be- 
fore the  capitulation  at  York-town,  and  almost 
within  the  sound  of  the  guns  that  proclaimed  the 
fall  of  the  cause  he  had  so  loyally  espoused.  From 
this  place  of  victory  Roland  departed  to  seek  his 
kinswoman.  He  found  her  in  the  house, — not  of 
his  fathers,  but  of  a  stranger, — herself  a  destitute 
and  homeless  orphan.  No  will  appeared  to  pro- 
nounce her  the  mistress  of  the  wealth  he  had 
himself  rejected;  but,  in  place  of  it,  the  original 
testament  in  favour  of  Major  Forrester's  own 
child,  was  produced  by  Braxley,  his  confidential 
friend  and  attorney,  who,  by  it,  was  appointed 
both  executor  of  the  estate  and  trustee  to  the  in- 
dividual in  whose  favour  it  was  constructed. 

The  production  of  such  a  testament,  so  many 
years  after  the  death  of  the  girl,  caused  no  little 
astonishment ;  but  this  was  still  further  increased 
by  what  followed,  the  aforesaid  Braxley  instantly 
taking  possession  of  the  whole  estate  in  the  name 
of  the  heiress,  who,  he  made  formal  deposition, 
was,  to  the  best  of  his  belief,  yet  alive,  and  would 
appear  to  claim  her  inheritance.  In  support  of  this 
extraordinary  averment,  he  produced,  or  professed 
himself  ready  to  produce,  evidence  to  show  that 
Forrester's  child,  instead  of  being  burned  to  death 
as  was  believed,  had  actually  been  trepanned  and 


46  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

carried  away  by  persons  to  him  unknown,  the 
burning  of  the  house  of  her  foster-mother  having 
been  devised  and  exceuted  merely  to  give  colour 
to  the  story  of  her  death.  Who  were  the  perpe- 
trators of  such  an  outrage,  and  for  what  purpose 
it  had  been  devised,  he  affected  to  be  ignorant; 
though  he  threw  out  many  hints  and  surmises  of 
a  character  more  painful  to  Edith  and  Roland 
than  even  the  loss  of  the  property.  These  hints 
Roland  could  not  persuade  himself  to  repeat  to  the 
curious  Kentuckian,  since  they  w^ent,  in  fact,  to 
charge  his  own  father,  and  Edith's,  with  the  crime 
of  having  themselves  concealed  the  child,  for  the 
purpose  of  removing  the  only  bar  to  their  expecta- 
tions of  succession. 

Whatever  might  be  thought  of  this  singular 
story,  it  gained  some  believers,  and  was  enough 
in  the  hands  of  Braxley,  a  man  of  great  address 
and  resolution,  and,  withal,  a  lawyer,  to  enable 
him  to  laugh  to  scorn  the  feeble  efforts  made  by 
the  impoverished  Roland  to  bring  it  to  the  test  of 
legal  arbitrement.  Despairing,  in  fact,  of  his  cause, 
after  a  few  trials  had  convinced  him  of  his  impo- 
tence, and  perhaps  himself  almost  believing  the 
tale  to  be  true,  the  young  man  gave  up  the  con- 
test, and  directed  his  thoughts  to  the  condition  of 
his  cousin  Edith  ;  who,  upon  the  above  circum- 
stances being  made  known,  had  received  a  warm 
invitation  to  the  house  and  protection  of  her  only 
female  relative,  a  married  lady,  whose  husband 
had,  two  years  before,  emigrated  to  the  Falls  of 
Ohio,  where  he  was  now  a  person  of  considerable 
importance.  This  invitation  determined  the  course 
to  be  pursued.  The  young  man  instantly  resigned 
his  commission,  and  converting  the  little  property 
that  remained  into  articles  necessary  to  the  emi- 
grant, turned  his  face  to  the  boundless  West,  and 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  47 

with  his  helpless  kinswoman  at  his  side,  plunged 
at  once  into  the  forest.  A  home  for  Edith  in  the 
house  of  a  relative  was  the  first  object  of  his  de- 
sires ;  his  second,  as  he  had  already  mentioned, 
was  to  lay  the  foundation  for  the  fortunes  of  both, 
by  locating  lands  on  proclamation-warrants,  as 
they  were  called,  (being  grants  of  western  lands 
made  to  the  colonists  who  had  served  the  crown 
in  the  provincial  French  wars,)  which  the  two  had 
inherited  from  their  fathers,  besides  the  bounty- 
grants  earned  by  himself  in  virtue  of  mihtary  ser- 
vice rendered  in  the  army  of  his  native  state. 

There  was  something  in  the  condition  of  the 
young  and  almost  friendless  adventurers  to  interest 
the  feelings  of  the  hardy  Kentuckian;  but  they 
were  affected  still  more  strongly  by  the  generous 
self-sacrifice,  as  it  might  be  called,  which  the 
young  soldier  was  evidently  making  for  his  kins- 
woman, for  whom  he  had  given  up  an  honourable 
profession  and  his  hopes  of  fame  and  distinction, 
to  live  a  life  of  inglorious  toil  in  the  desert.  He 
gave  the  youth  another  energetic  grasp  of  hand, 
and  said,  with  uncommon  emphasis, — 

"Hark'ee,  Captain,  my  lad,  I  lov^e  and  honour 
ye ;  and  I  could  say  no  more,  if  you  war  my  own 
natteral  born  father !  As  to  that  'ar'  Richard 
Braxley,  whom  I  call'd  my  old  friend,  you  must 
know,  it  war  an  old  custom  I  have  of  calhng  a 
man  a  friend  who  war  only  an  acquaintance ;  for 
I  am  for  being  friendly  to  all  men  that  are  white 
and  honest,  and  no  Injuns.  Now,  I  do  hold  that 
Braxley  to  be  a  rascal, — a  precocious  rascal,  sir  ! 
and,  I  rather  reckon,  tharwar  lying  and  villiany  at 
the  bottom  of  that  will ;  and  I  hope  you'll  five  to 
see  the  truth  of  it.'^ 

The  sympathy  felt  by  the  Kentuckian  in  the 
story  was  experienced  in  a  still  stronger  degree 


48  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

by  Telie  Doe,  the  girl  of  the  loom,  who,  little  no- 
ticed, if  at  all,  by  the  two,  sat  apparently  occu- 
pied with  her  work,  yet  drinking  in  every  word 
uttered  by  the  young  soldier  with  a  deep  and  eager 
interest,  until  Roland  by  chance  looking  round,  be- 
held her  large  eyes  fastened  upon  him,  with  a 
wild,  sorrowful  look,  of  which,  however,  she  her- 
self seemed  quite  unconscious,  that  greatly  sur- 
prised him.  The  Kentuckian  observing  her  at  the 
same  time,  called  to  her, — "  What,  Telie,  my  girl, 
are  you  working  upon  a  holyday  ?  You  should  be 
dressed  like  the  others,  and  making  friends  with 
the  strannger  lady.  And  so  git  away  with  you  now, 
and  make  yourself  handsome,  and  don't  stand  thar 
looking  as  if  the  gentleman  would  eat  you." 

Upon  being  thus  accosted,  the  girl  exhibited 
much  of  the  same  terror  and  flurry  of  spirits  that 
she  had  shown  on  a  previous  occasion ;  but  obey- 
ing the  order  at  last,  she  left  the  loom,  and  stole 
timorously  into  the  house. 

"A  qu'ar  crittur  she,  poor  thing!"  said  Bruce, 
looking  after  her  commiseratingly, "  and  a  strannger 
might  think  her  no  more  nor  half-witted.  But  she 
has  sense  enough,  poor  crittur !  and,  I  reckon,  is 
just  as  smart,  if  she  war  not  so  humble  and  skit- 
tish, as  any  of  my  own  daughters." 

"What,"  said  Roland,  "is  she  not  then  your 
child  ?" 

"  No,  no,"  replied  Bruce,  shaking  his  head,  "  a 
poor  crittur,  of  no  manner  of  kin  whatever.  Her 
father  war  an  old  friend,  or  acquaintance-like  ;  for, 
rat  it,  I  won't  own  friendship  for  any  such  aposta- 
tized villians,  no  how: — but  the  man  war  taken  by 
the  Shawnees ;  and  so  as  thar  war  none  to  be- 
friend her,  and  she  war  but  a  little  chit  no  bigger 
nor  my  hand,  I  took  to  her  myself  and  raised  her. 
But  the  worst  of  it  is,  and  that's  what  makes  her 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  49 

SO  wild  and  skeary,  her  father,  Abel  Doe,  turned 
Injun  himself,  like  Girty,  Elliot,  and  the  rest  of 
them  refugee  scoundrels  you've  h'ard  of.  Now 
thaVs  enough,  you  see,  to  make  the  poor  thing  sad 
and  frightful ;  for  Abel  Doe  is  a  rogue,  thar's  no 
denying,  and  every  body  hates  and  cusses  him,  as 
is  but  his  due  :  and  it's  natteral,  now  she's  growing 
old  enough  to  be  ashamed  of  him,  she  should  be 
ashamed  of  herself  too, — though  thar's  nothing 
but  her  father  to  charge  against  her,  poor  creatur'. 
A  bad  thing  for  her,  to  have  an  Injunized  father ; 
for  if  it  war'nt  for  him,  I  reckon  my  son  Tom,  the 
brute,  would  take  to  her,  and  marry  her." 

"Poor  creature,  indeed  I"  muttered  Roland  to 
himself,  contrasting  in  thought  the  condition  of 
this  helpless  and  deserted  girl  with  that  of  his  own 
unfortunate  kinswoman,  and  sighing  to  acknow- 
ledge that  it  was  still  more  forlorn  and  pitiable. 

His  sympathy  was,  however,  but  short-lived, 
being  interrupted  on  the  instant  by  a  loud  uproar 
of  voices  from  the  gate  of  the  stockade,  sounding 
half  in  mirth,  half  in  triumph  ;  while  the  junior 
Bruce  was  seen  approaching  the  porch,  looking 
the  very  messenger  of  good  news. 


VOL. 


50  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 


CHAPTER  III. 


"  What's  the  matter,  Tom  Bruce  ?"  said  the 
father,  eyeing  him  with  surprise. 

"  Matter  enough,"  responded  the  young  giant, 
with  a  grin  of  mingled  awe  and  dehght ;  "  the 
Jibbenainosay  is  up  again  !" 

"Whar?"  cried  the  senior,  eagerly, — "  not  in 
our  limits'?" 

"  No,  by  Jehoshaphat  !"  replied  Tom  ;  "  but 
nigh  enough  to  be  neighbourly, — on  the  north 
bank  of  Kentuck,  whar  he  has  left  his  mark 
right  in  the  middle  of  the  road,  as  fresh  as 
though  it  war  but  the  work  of  the  morning !" 

"  And  a  clear  mark,  Tom  ? — no  mistake  in  it?" 

"  Right  to  an  iota!"  said  the  young  man; — "a 
reggelar  cross  on  the  breast,  and  a  good  toma- 
hawk-dig right  through  the  skull;  and  a  long- 
legg'd  fellow  too,  that  looked  as  if  he  might  have 
fou'told  Sattan  himself!" 

"  It  's  the  Jibbenainosay,  sure  enough  :  and  so 
good  luck  to  him  !"  cried  the  commander  :  *'  thar's 
a  harricane  coming !" 

"Who  is  the  Jibbenainosay?"  demanded  For- 
rester. 

"Who?"  cried  Tom  Bruce;  "Why  Nick,— 
Nick  of  the  Woods." 

"  And  who,  if  you  please,  is  Nick  of  the 
Woods  ?" 

"  Thar,"  replied  the  junior  with  another  grin, 
"  thar,  strannger,  you  're  too  hard  for  me.     Some 


NIGK  OF  THE  WOODS.  5 1 

think  one  thing,  and  some   another;  but   thar's 
many  reckon  he's  the  devil." 

"  And  his  mark,  that  you  were  talking  of  in 
such  mysterious  terms, — what  is  that  ?" 

"  Why,  a  dead  Injun,  to  be  sure,  with  Nick's 
mark  on  him', — a  knife-cut,  or  a  brace  of  'em,  over 
the  ribs  in  the  shape  of  a  cross.  Thai's  the  way 
the  Jibbenainosay  marks  all  the  meat  of  his  kill- 
ing. It  has  been  a  whole  year  now  since  we 
h'ard  of  him." 

"Captain,"  said  the  elder  Bruce,  "you  don't 
seem  to  understand  the  affa'r  altogether;  but  if 
you  war  to  ask  Tom  about  the  Jibbenainosay  till 
doomsday,  he  could  tell  you  no  more  than  he  has 
told  already.  You  must  know,  thar's  a  creatur' 
of  some  sort  or  other  that  ranges  the  woods  round 
about  our  station  h'yar,  keeping  a  sort  of  guard 
over  us  like,  and  killing  all  the  brute  Injuns  that 
ar'  onlucky  enough  to  come  in  his  way,  besides 
scalping  them,  and  marking  them  with  his  mark. 
The  Injuns  call  him  Jibbenainosay,  or  a  word  oi 
that  natur',  which  them  that  know  more  about 
the  Injun  gabble  than  I  do,  say  means  the  Spirit- 
ihat-walks;  and  if  we  can  believe  any  such  lying 
devils  as  Injuns,  (which  I  am  loath  to  do,  for  the 
truth  ar'nt  in  'em,)  he  is  neither  man  nor  beast,  but 
a  great  ghost  or  devil  that  knife  cannot  harm  nor 
bullet  touch ;  and  they  have  always  had  an  idea 
that  our  fort  h'yar  in  partickelar,  and  the  country 
round  about,  war  under  his  friendly  protection — 
many  thanks  to  him,  whether  he  be  a  devil  or  not; 
for  that  war  the  reason  the  savages  so  soon  left 
off  a  worrying  of  us." 

"  Is  it  possible,"  said  Roland,  "  that  any  one  can 
believe  such  an  absurd  story?" 

"  Why  not,"  said  Bruce,  stoutly.  "  Thar's  the 
Injuns  themselves,  Shawnees,  Hurons,  Delawares 


52  NICK  or  THE  W00D3. 

and  all,— but  partickelarly  the  Shawnees,  for  he 
beats  all  creation  a-kiiling  of  Shawnees, — that  be- 
lieve in  him,  and  hold  him  in  such  etarnal  dread, 
that  thar's  scarce  a  brute  of  'em  has  come  withia 
ten  rniles  of  the  station  h'yar^  this  three  y^ar:  be- 
cause as  how,  he  haunts  about  our  woods  h'yar 
in  partickelar,  and  he  kills  'em  wheresomever  he 
catches  'em, — especially  the  Shawnees,  as  I  said 
afore,  against  which  the  creatur'  has  a  most  butch- 
ering spite;  and  there's  them  among  the  other 
tribes  that  call  him  the  S howneeic annate een,  or  the 
Howl  of  the  Shawnees,  because  of  his  keeping 
them  ever  a  howling.  And  thar's  his  marks,  cap- 
tain,— what  do  you  make  of  that  ?  When  you 
find  an  Injun  lying  scalped  and  tomahawked,  it 
stands  to  reason  thar  war  something  to  kill 
him?' 

"  Ay,  truly,"  said  Forrester ;  "  but  I  think  vow 
have  human  beings  enough  to  give  the  credit  to, 
without  referring  it  to  a  supernatural  one." 

"  Strannger,"  said  Big  Tom  Bruce  the  younger, 
W'ith  a  sagacious  nod,  "when  you  kill  an  Injun 
yourself,  I  reckon, — meaning  no  offence — you  will 
be  willing  to  take  all  the  honour  that  can  come  of 
it,  without  leaving  it  to  be  scrambled  after  hy 
others.  Thar's  no  man  'arns  a  scalp  in  Ken- 
tucky, without  taking  great  pains  to  show  it  to  his 
neighbours." 

"  And  besides,  captain,"  said  the  father,  very 
gravely,  "  thar  are  men  among  us  who  have  seen 
the  creatur' !" 

"  Thaty'  said  Roland,  who  perceived  his  new 
friends  were  not  well  pleased  with  his  incredulity, 
"  is  an  argument  I  can  resist  no  longer." 

"  Thar  war  Ben  Jones,  and  Samuel  Sharp,  and 
Peter  Smalleye,  and  a  dozen  more,  who  all  had 
a  glimpse  of  him  stalking  through  the  woods,  at 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  53 

different  times;  and,  they  agree,  he  looks  more 
like  a  devil  nor  a  mortal  man, — a  great  tall  fellow 
with  horns  and  a  hairy  head  like  a  buffalo-bull, 
and  a  little  devil  that  looks  like  a  black  b'ar,  that 
walks  before  him  to  point  out  the  w^ay.  He  war 
always  found  in  the  deepest  forests,  and  that's  the 
reason  we  call  him  Nick  of  the  Woods ;  wharby 
we  mean  Old  Nick  of  the  Woods ;  for  we  hold 
him  to  be  the  devil,  though  a  friendly  one  to  all 
but  Injuns.  Now,  captain,  I  W'ar  never  supersti- 
tious in  my  life, — but  I  go  my  death  on  the  Jib- 
benainosay!  I  never  seed  the  creatur'  himself, 
but  I  have  seen  in  my  time  tw^o  different  savages 
of  his  killing.  It's  a  sure  sign,  if  you  see  him  in 
the  woods,  that  thar's  Injuns  at  hand:  and  it's  a 
good  sign  when  you  find  his  mark,  without  seeing 
himself;  for  then  you  may  be  sure  the  brutes  are 
off, — they  can't  stand  old  Nick  of  the  Woods  no 
how  !  At  first,  he  war  never  h'ard  of  afar  from 
our  station ;  but  he  has  begun  to  widen  his  range. 
Last  year  he  left  his  marks  down  Salt  River  in 
Jefferson;  and  now,  you  see,  he  is  striking  game 
north  of  the  Kentucky;  and  I  have  h'ard  of  them 
that  say  he  kills  Shaw^nees  even  in  their  own 
country;  though  consarning  that  I'll  not  be  so 
partickelar.  No,  no,  captain,  thar's  no  mistake  in 
Nick  of  the  Woods ;  and  if  you  are  so  minded, 
we  will  go  and  h'ar  the  whole  news  of  him.  But, 
I  say,  Tom,"  continued  the  Kentuckian,  as  the 
three  left  the  porch  together,  "  who  brought  the 
news  ?" 

"Captain  Ralph, — Roaring  Ralph  Stackpole," 
replied  Tom  Bruce,  with  a  knowing  and  humour- 
ous look. 

"  What !"  cried  the  father,  in  sudden  alarm ; 
*'  Look  to  the  horses,  Tom  !" 

*'  I  will,"  said  the  youth,  laughing  :  "  it  war  no 
5* 


54  KICK  OF  THE  WOODS- 

sooner  known  that  Captain  Ralph  war  amoi-ig  us 
than  it  was  resolved  to  have  six  Regulators  in  the 
range  all  night !  Thar's  some  of  these  new  colts, 
(not  to  speak  of  our  own  creaturs^)  and  especially 
that  blooded  brown  beast  of  the  captain's,  which 
the  nigger  calls  Brown  Briery,  or  some  such 
name,  would  set  a  better  man  than  Roaring  Ralph 
Stackpole's  mouth  watering." 

"  And  who,"  said  Roland,  "  is  Roaring  Ralpli 
Stackpole  ?  and  what  has  he  to  do  with  Brown 
Briareus  ?" 

"  A  proper  fellow  as  ever  you  saw !"  repHed 
Tom,  approvingl}^ ; — "killed  two  Injuns  once,  sin- 
gle-handed, on  Bear-Grass,  and  has  stolen  more 
horses  from  them  than  ar  another  man  in  Ken- 
tucky. A  prime  creatur'  1  but  he  has  his  fault, 
poor  fellow,  and  sometimes  mistakes  a  christian's 
horse  for  an  Injun's,  thar's  the  truth  of  it !" 

"  And  such  scoundrels  you  make  ofhcers  of?" 
demanded  the  soldier,  indignantly. 

"  Oh,"  said  the  elder  Bruce,  "  thar's  no  reggelar 
commission  in  the  case.  But  whar  thar's  a  knot 
of  our  poor  folks  out  of  horses,  and  inclined  to 
steal  a  lot  from  the  Shawnees,  (which  is  all  fa'r 
plundering,  you  see,  for  thar's  not  a  horse  among 
them,  the  brutes,  that  they  did  not  steal  from 
Kentucky,)  they  send  for  Roaring  Ralph  and  make 
him  their  captain;  and  a  capital  one  he  is,  too, 
being  all  fight  from  top  to  bottom;  and  as  for  the 
stealing  part,  thar's  no  one  can  equal  him.  But, 
as  Tom  says,  he  sometimes  does  make  mistakes, 
having  stolen  horses  so  often  from  the  Injuns,  he 
can  scarce  keep  his  hands  ofl'  a  christian's ;  and 
that  makes  us  wrathy." 

By  this  time  the  speakers  had  reached  the  gate 
of  the  fort,  and  passed  among  the  cabins  outside, 
where  they  found  a  throng  of  the  villagers,  sur- 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  55 

rounding  the  captain  of  horse-thieves,  and  Hsten- 
ing  with  great  edification  to,  and  deriving  no 
little  amusement  from,  his  account  of  the  last 
achievement  of  the  Jibbenainosay.  Of  this,  as  it 
related  no  more  than  the  young  Bruce  had  already 
repeated, — namely,  that,  while  riding  that  morn- 
ing from  the  north  side,  he  had  stumbled  upon  the 
corse  of  an  Indian,  which  bore  all  the  marks  of 
having  been  a  late  victim  to  the  wandering  de- 
mon of  the  woods, — we  shall  say  nothing: — but 
the  appearance  and  conduct  of  the  narrator,  one 
of  the  first,  and  perhaps  the  parent,  of  the  race  of 
men  who  have  made  Salt  River  so  renowned  in 
story,  w^ere  such  as  to  demand  a  less  summary 
notice.  He  was  a  stout,  bandy-legged,  broad- 
shouldered,  and  bull-headed  tatterdemalion,  ugly, 
mean,  and  villainous  of  look;  yet  with  an  impu- 
dent, swaggering,  joyous  self-esteem  traced  in 
every  feature  and  expressed  in  every  action  of 
body,  that  rather  disposed  the  beholder  to  laugh 
than  to  be  displeased  at  his  appearance.  An  old 
blanket-coat,  or  wrap-rascal,  once  white,  but  now 
of  the  same  muddy  brown  hue  that  stained  his 
visage,  and  once  also  of  sufficient  length  to  de- 
fend his  legs,  though  the  skirts  had  long  since  been 
transferred  to  the  cufl^s  and  elbows,  \yhere  they 
appeared  in  huge  patches,  covered  the  upper  part 
of  his  body;  while  the  lower  boasted  a  pair  of 
buckskin  breeches  and  leather  wrappers,  some- 
what its  junior  in  age,  but  its  rival  in  mud  and 
maculation.  An  old  round  fur  hat,  intended 
originally  for  a  boy,  and  only  made  to  fit  his 
head  by  being  slit  in  sundry  places  at  the  bottom, 
thus  leaving  a  dozen  yawning  gaps,  through 
which,  as  through  the  chinks  of  a  lattice,  stole  out 
as  many  stiflf  bunches  of  black  hair,  gave  to  the 
capital  excrescence  an  air  as  ridiculous  as  it  was 


56  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

truly  uncouth,  which  was  not  a  Httle  increased  by 
the  absence  on  one  side  of  the  brim,  and  by  a 
loose  fragment  of  it  hanging  down  on  the  other. 
To  gK'e  something  martial  to  an  appearance  in 
other  respects  so  outlandish  and  ludicrous,  he  had 
his  rifle,  and  other  usual  equipments  of  a  woods- 
man, including  the  knife  and  tomahawk,  the  first 
of  which  he  carried  in  his  hand,  swinging  it  about 
at  every  moment,  with  a  vigour  and  apparent 
carelessness  well  fit  to  discompose  a  nervous  per- 
son, had  any  such  happened  among  his  auditors. 
As  if  there  was  not  enough  in  his  figure,  visage, 
and  attire  to  move  the  mirth  of  beholders,  he 
added  to  his  other  attractions  a  variety  of  ges- 
tures and  antics  of  the  most  extravagant  kinds, 
dancing,  leaping  and  dodging  about,  clapping  his 
hands  and  cracking  his  heels  together,  w^ith  the 
activity,  restlessness,  and,  we  may  add,  the  grace, 
of  a  jumping-jack.  Such  was  the  worthy,  or  un- 
worthy, son  of  Salt  River,  a  man  wholly  unknown 
to  history,  though  not  to  local  and  traditionary 
fame,  and  much  less  to  the  then  inhabitants  of 
Bruce's  Station,  to  whom  he  related  his  news  of 
the  Jibbenainosay  with  that  emphasis  and  impor- 
tance of  tone  and  manner  which  are  most  signifi- 
cantly expressed  in  the  phrase  of  Majnng  down 
the  law\' 

As  soon  as  he  saw  the  commander  of  the  Sta- 
tion approaching,  he  cleared  the  throng  around 
him  by  a  skip  and  a  hop,  seized  the  colonel  by  the 
hand,  and  doing  the  same  with  the  soldier,  before 
Roland  could  repel  him,  as  he  would  have  done, 
exclaimed,  "Glad  to  see  you,  cunnel; — same  to 

you,  strannger What's    the   news   from    Vir- 

ginnie?  Strannger,  my  name's  Ralph  Stackpole, 
and  I'm  a  ring-tailed  squealer!" 

"  Then,  Mr.  Ralph  Stackpole,  the  ring-tailed 


A'lCK  OF  THE  WOODS.  57 

squealer,"  said  Roland,  disengaging  his  hand,  '•  be 
so  good  as  to  pursue  your  business,  without  re- 
garding or  taking  any  notice  of  me." 

<* 'Tarnal  death  to  me!"  cried  the  captain  of 
horse-thieves,  indignant  at  the  rebuff,  "  I'm  a  gen- 
tleman, and  my  name  's  Fight !  Foot  and  hand, 
tooth  and  nail,  claw  and  mud-scraper,  knife,  gun, 
and  tomahawk,  or  any  other  way  you  choose  to 
take  me,  I'm  your  man !  Cock-a-doodle-doo !" 
And  with  that,  the  gentleman  jumped  into  the  air, 
and  flapped  his  wings,  as  much  to  the  amusement 
of  the  provoker  of  his  wrath  as  of  any  other  per- 
son present. 

"Come,  Ralph,"  said  the  commander  of  the 
Station,  "  whar'd'  you  steal  that  brown  mar'  thar?" 
— a  question  whose  abruptness  somewhat  quelled 
the  ferment  of  the  man's  fury,  while  it  drew^  a 
roar  of  laughter  from  the  lookers-on. 

"  Thar  it  is !"  said  he,  striking  an  attitude  and 
clapping  a  hand  on  his  breast,  like  a  man  who  felt 
his  honour  unjustly  assailed.  "  Steal!  /steal  any 
horse  but  an  Injun's !  Whar's  the  man  dar's  in- 
sinivate  that  I  Blood  and  massacree-ation  !  whar's 
the  man?" 

"  H'yar,"  said  Bruce,  very  composedly.  "  I  know 
that  old  mar'  belongs  to  Peter  Harper,  on  the  north 
side." 

"  You're  right,  by  Hooky !"  cried  Roaring 
Ralph :  at  which  seeming  admission  of  his  knavery 
the  merriment  of  the  spectators  was  greatly  in- 
creased ;  nor  was  it  much  lessened  w^hen  the  fel- 
low proceeded  to  aver  that  he  had  borrowed  it, 
and  that  with  the  express  stipulation  that  it  should 
be  left  at  Bruce*s  Station,  subject  to  the  orders  of 
its  owner.  "  Thar,  cunnel,"  said  he,  "  thar's  the 
beast ;  take  it ;  and  just  tell  me  whar's  the  one  you 


58  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

mean  to  lend  me, — for  I  must  be  oft'  afore  sun- 
set." 

"  And  whar  are  you  going?"  demanded  Bruce. 

"  To  St.  Asaphs," — which  was  a  Station  some 
twenty  or  thirty  miles  off*, — replied  Captain  Stack- 
pole. 

"  Too  far  for  the  Regulators  to  follow,  Ralph," 
said  Colonel  Bruce ;  at  which  the  young  men  pre- 
sent laughed  louder  than  ever,  and  eyed  the  visi- 
ter in  a  way  that  seemed  both  to  disconcert  and 
offend  him. 

"  Cunnel,"  said  he,  "  you're  a  man  in  authority, 
and  my  superior  officer ;  wharfo'  thar'  can  be  no 
scalping  between  us.  But  my  name's  Tom  Dow- 
dle,  the  rag-man !"  he  screamed,  suddenly  skip- 
ping into  the  thickest  of  the  throng,  and  sounding 
a  note  of  defiance ;  "  my  name's  Tom  Dowdle, 
the  rag-man,  and  I'm  for  any  man  that  insults  me  ! 
log-leg  or  leather-breeches,  green-shirt  or  blanket- 
coat,  land-trottcr  or  river-roller, — I'm  the  man  for 
a  massacree !"  Then  giving  himself  a  twirl  upon 
his  foot  that  would  have  done  credit  to  a  dancing- 
master,  he  proceeded  to  other  antic  demon- 
strations of  hostility,  which,  when  performed  in 
after  years  on  the  banks  of  the  Lower  Mississippi, 
by  himself  and  his  worthy  imitators,  were,  w^e 
suspect,  the  cause  of  their  receiving  the  name  of 
the  mighty  alligator.  It  is  said,  by  naturalists,  of 
this  monstrous  reptile,  that  he  delights,  when  the 
returning  warmth  of  spring  has  brought  his  fel- 
lows from  their  holes,  and  placed  them  basking 
along  the  banks  of  a  swampy  lagoon,  to  dart  into 
the  centre  of  the  expanse,  and  challenge  the  whole 
field  to  combat.  He  roars,  he  blows  the  water 
from  his  nostrils,  he  lashes  it  with  his  tail,  he 
whirls  round  and  round,  churning  the  water  into 
foam ;  until,  having  worked  himself  into  a  proper 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  59 

fury,  he  darts  back  again  to  the  shore,  to  seek  an 
antagonist.  Had  the  gallant  captain  of  horse- 
thieves  boasted  the  blood,  as  he  afterwards  did 
the  name,  of  an  *  alligator  half-breed,'  he  could 
have  scarce  conducted  himself  in  a  way  more 
worthy  of  his  parentage.  He  leaped  into  the 
centre  of  the  throng,  where,  having  found  elbow-- 
room for  his  purpose,  he  performed  the  gyration 
mentioned  before,  following  it  up  by  other  feats 
expressive  of  his  hostile  humour.  He  flapped  his 
wings  and  crowed,  until  every  chanticleer  in  the 
settlement  replied  to  the  note  of  battle;  he  snorted 
and  neighed  hke  a  horse;  he  bellowed  like  a  bull; 
he  barked  like  a  dog;  he  yelled  like  an  Indian;  he 
whined  like  a  panther;  he  howled  Hke  a  wolf,  un- 
til one  would  have  thought  he  was  a  living  mena- 
gerie, comprising  within  his  single  body  the  spirit 
of  every  animal  noted  for  its  love  of  conflict. 
Then,  not  content  with  such  a  display  of  readi- 
ness to  fight  the  field,  he  darted  from  the  centre 
of  the  area  allowed  him  for  his  exercise,  and  in- 
vited the  lookers-on  individually  to  battle.  "  Whar's 
your  buffalo-bull,"  he  cried,  "  to  cross  horns  with 
the  roarer  of  Salt  River?  Whar's  your  full-blood 
colt  that  can  shake  a  saddle  oflf?  h'yar's  an  old 
nag  can  kick  off*  the  top  of  a  buck-eye!  Whar's 
your  cat  of  the  Knob's?  your  wolf  of  the  Rolling 
Prairies?  h'yar's  the  old  brown  b'ar  can  claw  the 
bark  off*  a  gum-tree !  H'yar's  a  man  for  you,  Tom 
Bruce  !  Same  to  you,  Sim  Roberts  !  to  you,  Jimmy 
Big-nose  !  to  you,  and  to  you,  and  to  you  !  Ar'n't 
I  a  ring-tailed  squealer?  Can  go  down  Salt  on  my 
back,  and  swim  up  the  Ohio  !  Whar's  the  man  to 
fight  Roaring  Ralph  Stackpole?" 

Now,  whether  it  happened  that  there  were  none 
present  inclined  to  a  contest  with  such  a  cham- 
pion, or  whether  it  was  that  the  young  men  look- 


60  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

ed  upon  the  exhibition  as  a  mere  bravado  meant 
rather  to  amuse  them  than  to  irritate,  it  so  occur- 
red that  not  one  of  them  accepted  the  challenge ; 
though  each,  when  personally  called  on,  did  his 
best  to  add  to  the  roarer's  fury,  if  fury  it  really 
were,  by  letting  oft'  sundry  jests  in  relation  to 
borrowed  horses  and  Regulators.*  That  the  fel- 
low's rage  was  in  great  part  assumed,  Roland, 
who  was,  at  first,  somewhat  amused  at  his  extra- 
vagance, became  soon  convinced ;  and  growing 
at  last  weary  of  it,  he  was  about  to  signify  to  his 
host  his  inclination  to  return  into  the  fort,  when 
.the  appearance  of  another  individual  on  the  ground 
suddenly  gave  promise  of  new  entertainment. 

*  It  is  scarce  necessary  to  inform  the  reader,  that  by  this 
term  must  be  understood  those  public-spirited  citizens,  amateur 
jack-ketches,  who  administer  Lynch-law  in  districts  where 
regular  law  is  but  inefficiently,  or  not  at  all,  established. 


SICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  61 


CHAPTER  IV, 


''  If  you're  ralely  ripe  for  a  fight,  Roaring 
Ralph,"  cried  Tom  Bruce  the  younger,  who  had 
shown,  like  the  others,  a  greater  disposition  to  jest 
than  to  do  battle  with  the  champion,  "here  comes 
the  very  man  for  you.  Look,  boys,  thar  comes 
Bloody  Nathan !"  At  which  formidable  name 
there  was  a  loud  shout  set  up,  with  an  infinite 
<leal  of  laughing  and  clapping  of  hands. 

"  Whar's  the  feller]"  cried  Captain  Stackpole, 
springing  six  feet  into  the  air,  and  uttering  a 
whoop  of  anticipated  triumph.  "  I've  hcerd  of 
the  brute,  and,  'tarnal  death  to  me,  but  I'm  his 
super-superior !  Show  me  the  crittur,  and  let  me 
fiy !  Cock-a-doodle-doo !" 

"  Hurrah  for  Roaring  Ralph  Stackpole  !"  cried 
the  young  men,  some  of  whom  proceeded  to  pat 
him  on  the  back  in  compliment  to  his  courage, 
while  others  ran  forward  to  hasten  the  approach 
of  the  expected  antagonist. 

The  appearance  of  the  comer,  at  a  distance, 
promised  an  equal  match  to  the  captain  of  horse- 
thieves;  but  Roland  perceived,  from  the  increase 
of  merriment  among  the  Kentuckians,  and  espe- 
cially from  his  host  joining  heartily  in  it,  that  there 
was  more  in  Bloody  Nathan  than  met  the  eye. 
And  yet  there  was  enough  in  his  appearance  to 
attract  attention,  and  to  convince  the  soldier  that 
if  Kentucky  had  shown  him,  in  Captain  Stack- 
pole,  one  extraordinary  specimen  of  her  inhabit- 
ants, she  had  others  to  exhibit  not  a  whit  less 

VOL.  I. 6 


62  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

remarkable.  It  is  on  the  frontiers,  indeed,  where 
adventurers  from  every  corner  of  the  world,  and 
from  every  circle  of  society,  are  thrown  together, 
that  we  behold  the  strongest  contrasts,  and  the 
strangest  varieties,  of  human  character. 

Casting  his  eyes  down  the  road  or  street,  (for  it 
was  flanked  by  the  outer  cabins  of  the  settlement, 
and  perhaps  deserved  the  latter  name,)  which  led, 
among  stumps  and  gullies,  from  the  gate  of  the 
stockade  to  the  bottom  of  the  hill,  Forrester  be- 
held a  tall  man  approaching,  leading  an  old  lame 
white  horse,  at  the  heels  of  which  followed  a  little 
silky-haired  black  or  brown  dog,  dragging  its  tail 
betwixt  its  legs,  in  compliment  to  the  curs  of  the 
Station,  w^hich  seemed  as  hospitably  inclined  to 
spread  a  field  of  battle  for  the  submissive  brute,  as 
their  owners  were  to  make  ready  another  for  its 
master.  The  first  thing  that  surprised  the  soldier 
in  the  appearance  of  the  person  bearing  so  formi- 
dable a  name,  was  an  incongruity  which  struck 
others  as  well  as  himself,  even  the  colonel  of 
militia  exclaiming,  as  he  pointed  it  out  with  his 
finger,  "  It's  old  Nathan  Slaughter,  to  the  back- 
bone !  Thar  he  comes,  the  brute,  leading  a  horse 
in  his  hand,  and  carrying  his  pack  on  his  own 
back!  But  he's  a  marciful  man,  old  Nathan,  and 
the  horse  thar,  old  White  Dobbin,  war  foundered 
and  good  for  nothing  ever  since  the  boys  made  a 
race  with  him  against  Sammy  Parker's  jackass." 

As  he  approached  yet  nighcr,  Roland  perceived 
that  his  tall,  gaunt  figure  w^as  arrayed  in  garments 
of  leather  from  top  to  toe,  even  his  cap,  or  hat, 
(for  such  it  seemed,  having  several  broad  flaps 
suspended  by  strings,  so  as  to  serve  the  purpose  of 
a  brim,)  being  composed  of  fragments  of  tanned 
skins  rudely  sewed  together.  His  upper  garment 
differed  from  a  hunting-shirt  only  in  wanting  the 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  63 

fringes  usually  appended  to  it,  and  in  being  fashion- 
ed without  any  regard  to  the  body  it  encompassed, 
so  that,  in  looseness  and  shapelessness,  it  looked 
more  like  a  sack  than  a  human  vestment;  and, 
like  his  breeches  and  leggings,  it  bore  the  marks 
of  the  most  reverend  antiquity,  being  covered  with 
patches  and  stains  of  all  ages,  sizes,  and  colours. 
Thus  far  Bloody  Nathan's  appearance  was  not 
inconsistent  with  his  name,  being  uncommonly 
wild  and  savage;  and  to  assist  in  maintaining  his 
claims  to  the  title,  he  had  a  long  rifle  on  his  shoul- 
der, and  a  knife  in  his  belt,  both  of  which  were  in 
a  state  of  dilapidation  worthy  of  his  other  equip- 
ments; the  knife,  from  long  use  and  age,  being 
worn  so  thin  that  it  seemed  scarce  worth  the  car- 
rying, while  the  rifle  boasted  a  stock  so  rude, 
shapeless,  and,  as  one  would  have  judged  from  its 
magnitude  and  weight,  so  unserviceable,  that  it 
was  easy  to  believe  it  had  been  constructed  by  the 
unskilful  hands  of  Nathan  himself  Such,  then,  was 
the  appearance  of  the  man  who  seemed  so  pro- 
perly to  be  called  the  Bloody:  but  when  Roland 
came  to  survey  him  a  little  more  closely,  he  could 
not  avoid  suspecting  that  the  sobriquet,  instead  of 
being  given  to  indicate  w^arlike  and  dangerous 
traits  of  character,  had  been  bestowed  out  of  pure 
wantonness  and  derision.  His  visage,  seeming  to 
belong  to  a  man  of  at  least  forty-five  or  fifty  years 
of  age,  w^as  hollow,  and  almost  as  weather-worn 
as  his  apparel,  with  a  long  hooked  nose,  promi- 
nent chin,  a  wide  mouth  exceedingly  straight  and 
pinched,  with  a  melancholy  or  contemplative 
twist  at  the  corners,  and  a  pair  of  black  staring 
eyes  that  beamed  a  good-natured,  humble,  and 
perhaps  submissive,  simplicity  of  disposition.  His 
gait,  too,  as  he  stumbled  along  up  the  hill,  with  a 
shufl^ing,  awkward,  hesitating  step,  was  more  Hke 


64  KICK  OF  THE   \V00D5, 

that  of  a  man  who  apprehended  injury  and  insiilf, 
than  of  one  who  possessed  the  spirit  to  resist  them. 
The  fact,  moreover,  of  his  sustaining  on  his  ovvii 
shoulders  a  heavy  pack  of  deer  and  other  skins. 
to  reheve  the  miserable  horse  which  he  led,  be- 
tokened a  merciful  temper,  scarce  compatible  with 
the  qualities  of  a  man  of  war  and  contention. 
Another  test  and  criterion  by  which  Roland  judged 
his  claims  to  the  character  of  a  roarer,  he  found 
in  the  little  black  dog;  for  the  Virginian  was  a 
devout  believer,  as  we  are  ourselves,  in  that  max- 
im of  practical  philosophers, — namely,  that  by  the 
dog  you  shall  know  the  master,  the  one  being 
fierce,  magnanimous,  and  cowardly,  just  as  his 
master  is  a  bully,  a  gentleman,  or  a  dastard.  The 
little  dog  of  Bloody  Nathan  was  evidently  a  cow- 
ard, creeping  along  at  white  Dobbin's  heels,  and 
seeming  to  supplicate  with  his  tail,  which  now 
draggled  in  the  mud,  and  now  attempted  a  timid 
wag,  that  his  fellow-curs  of  the  Station  should  not 
be  rude  and  inhospitable  to  a  peaceable  stranger. 

On  the  whole,  the  appearance  of  the  man  was 
any  thing  in  the  world  but  that  of  the  bulky  and 
ferocious  ruffian  whom  the  nickname  had  led  Ro- 
land to  anticipate;  and  he  scarce  knew  whether 
to  pity  him,  or  to  join  in  the  laugh  with  which  tlie 
young  men  of  the  settlement  greeted  his  approaciu 
Perhaps  his  sense  of  the  ridiculous  would  have 
disposed  the  young  soldier  to  merriment;  but  the 
wistful  look,  with  which,  while  advancing^  Nathan 
seemed  to  deprecate  the  insults  he  evidently  ex- 
pected, spoke  volumes  of  reproach  to  his  spirit, 
and  the  half-formed  smile  faded  from  his  counte- 
nance. 

"Thar '."^  exclaimed  Tom  Bruce,  slapping  Stack- 
pole  on  the  shoulder,  with  great  glee,  "  thar's  the 
man  that  calls  himself  Dannger!     At  him,  for  the 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  65 

honour  of  Salt  River;  but  take  care  of  his  fore- 
legs, for,  I  tell  you,  he's  the  Pennsylvany  war- 
horse!" 

"  And  ar'n't  I  the  ramping  tiger  of  the  Rolling 
Fork?"  cried  Captain  Ralph;  "and  can't  I  eat 
him,  hoss,  dog,  dirty  jacket,  and  all?  Hold  me  by 
the  tail,  while  I  devour  him!" 

With  that,  he  executed  two  or  three  escapades, 
demivoltes,  curvets,  and  other  antics  of  a  truly 
equine  character,  and  galloping  up  to  the  amazed 
Nathan,  saluted  him  with  a  neigh  so  shrill  and 
hostile  that  even  White  Dobbin  pricked  up  his 
ears,  and  betrayed  other  symptoms  of  alarm. 

"  Surely,  Colonel,"  said  Roland,  "  you  will  not 
allow  that  mad  ruffian  to  assail  the  poor  man?" 

"  Oh,"  said  Bruce,  "  Ralph  won't  hurt  him ;  he's 
never  ambitious,  except  among  Injuns  and  horses. 
He's  only  for  skearing  the  old  feller." 

"  And  who  !"  said  Forrester,  "  may  the  old  fel- 
low be?  and  why  do  you  call  him  Bloodv  Na- 
than?" 

• "  We  call  him  Bloody  Nathan,"  replied  the 
commander,  "because  he's  the  only  man  in  all 
Kentucky,  that  won't  fght!  and  thar's  the  way  he 
beats  us  all  hollow.  Lord,  Captain,  you'd  hardly 
believe  it,  but  he's  nothing  more  than  a  poor 
Pennsylvany  Quaker ;  and  what  brought  him  out 
to  Kentucky,  whar  thar's  nar  another  creatur'  of 
his  tribe,  thar's  no  knowing.  Some  say  he  war 
dishonest,  and  so  had  to  cut  loose  from  Pennsyl- 
vany; but  I  never  heerd  of  his  steahng  any  thing 
in  Kentucky:  I  reckon  thar's  too  much  of  the 
chicken  about  him  for  that.  Some  say  he  is 
hunting  rich  lands;  which  war  like  enough  for 
any  body  that  war  not  so  poor  and  lazy.  And 
some  say  his  wits  are  unsettled,  and  I  hold  that 
that's  the  truth  of  the  creatur';  for  he  does  no- 
6# 


66  NICK  OF  THE  -WOODS. 

thing  but  go  wandering  up  and  down  the  country, 
now  h'yar  and  now  thar,  hunting  for  meat  and 
skins;  and  that's  pretty  much  the  way  he  makes  a 
living;  and  once  I  see'd  the  creatur'  have  a  fit, — 
a  right  up-and-down  touch  of  the  falHng-sickness, 
with  Jiis  mouth  all  of  a  foam.  Thar's  them  that's 
good-natur'd,  that  calls  iiim  Wandering  Nathan, 
because  of  his  being  h'yar,  and  thar,  and  every 
whar.  He  don't  seem  much  afear'd  of  the  In- 
juns; but,  they  say,  the  red  brutes  never  disturbs 
the  Pennsylvany  Quakers.  Howsomever,  he 
makes  himself  useful;  for  sometimes  he  finds  In- 
jun sign  w^har  thar's  no  Injuns  thought  of,  and  so 
he  gives  information ;  but  he  always  does  it,  as  he 
says,  to  save  bloodshed,  not  to  bring  on  a  fight. 
He  comes  to  me  once,  thar's  more  than  three 
years  ago,  and  instead  of  saying  '  Gunnel,  thar's 
twenty  Injuns  lying  on  the  road  at  the  lower  ford 
of  Salt,  whar  you  may  nab  them;'  says  he,  says 
he,  '  Friend  Thomas,  thee  must  keep  the  people 
from  going  nigh  the  ford,  for  thar's  Injuns  thar 
that  will  hurt  them ;'  and  then  he  takes  himself  off; 
whilst  I  rides  down  thar  with  twenty-five  men 
and  exterminates  them,  killing  six,  and  driving 
the  others  the  Lord  knows  whar.  He  has  had  but 
a  hard  time  of  it  among  us,  poor  creatur';  for  it 
used  to  make  us  w^rathy  to  find  thar  w^ar  so  little 
fight  in  him,  that  he  would'nt  so  much  as  kill  a 
murdering  Injun.  I  took  his  gun  from  him  once; 
for  why,  he  wouldn't  attend  muster,  when  I  had 
enrolled  him.  But  I  pitied  the  brute;  for  he  war 
poor,  and  thar  war  but  little  corn  in  his  cabin, 
and  nothing  to  shoot  meat  with ;  and  so  I  gave  it 
back,  and  told  him  to  take  his  own  ways  for  an 
old  fool." 

While  Colonel  Bruce  was  thus  delineating  the 
character  of  Nathan  Slaughter,  the  latter  found 


MCK  OF  THE  WOODS.  6t 

himself  surrounded  by  the  young  men  of  the  Sta- 
tion, the  butt  of  a  thousand  jests,  and  the  victim  of 
the  insolence  of  the  captain  of  horse-thieves.  It 
is  not  to  be  supposed  that  Roaring  Ralph  was 
really  the  bully  and  madman  that  his  extravagant 
freaks  and  expressions  seemed  to  proclaim  him. 
These,  like  any  other  '  actions  that  a  man  might 
play,'  were  assumed,  partly  because  it  suited  his 
humour  to  be  fantastic,  and  partly  because  the 
putting  of  his  antic  disposition  on,  was  the  only 
means  which  he,  like  many  of  his  betters,  pos- 
sessed of  attracting  attention,  and  avoiding  the 
neglect  and  contempt  to  which  his  low  habits  and 
appearance  would  have  otherwise  justly  consigned 
him.  There  was,  therefore,  little  really  hostile  in 
the  feelings  with  which  he  approached  the  non- 
combatant  ;  though  it  was  more  than  probable, 
the  disgust  he,  in  common  with  the  other  warlike 
personages,  entertained  toward  the  peaceable  Na- 
than, might  have  rendered  him  a  little  more  ma- 
licious than  usual. 

"  Bloody  Nathan  !"  said  he,  as  soon  as  he  had 
concluded  his  neighing  and  curvetting,  "  if  you 
ever  said  your  prayers,  now's  the  time.  Down 
with  your  pack, — for  I  can't  stand  deer's  ha'r 
sticking  in  my  swallow,  no  how  !" 

"  Friend,"  said  Blooody  Nathan,  meekly,  "  I  beg 
thee  will  not  disturb  me.  I  am  a  man  of  peace 
and  quiet." 

And  so  saying,  he  endeavoured  to  pass  onwards, 
but  was  prevented  by  Ralph,  who  seizing  his 
heavy  bundle  with  one  hand,  applied  his  right  foot 
to  it  with  a  dexterity  that  not  only  removed  it  from 
the  poor  man's  back,  but  sent  the  dried  skins  scat- 
tering over  the  road.  This  feat  was  rewarded  by 
the  spectators  with  loud  shouts,  all  which,  as  well 


68  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

as  the  insult  itself,  Nathan  bore  with  exemplary 
patience. 

"  Friend,"  he  said,  "what  does  thee  seek  of  me, 
that  thee  treats  me  thus?" 

"  A  fight !"  replied  Captain  Stackpole,  uttering 
a  war-whoop;  "a  fight,  strannger,  for  the  love  of 
heaven  !" 

"  Thee  seeks  it  of  the  wrong  person,"  said  Na- 
than ;  "  and  I  beg  thee  will  get  thee  away." 

"What!"  said  Stackpole,  "  ar'nt  thee  the  Penn- 
sylvanny  war-horse,  the  screamer  of  the  meeting- 
house, the  bloody-mouthed  b'ar  of  Yea-Nay-and- 
Verily  ?" 

"  I  am  a  man  of  peace,"  said  the  submissive 
Slaughter. 

"  Yea  verily,  verily  and  yea  !"  cried  Ralph,  snuf- 
fling through  the  nostrils,  but  assuming  an  air  of 
extreme  indignation ;  "  Strannger,  I've  heerd  of 
you  !  You're  the  man  that  holds  it  agin  duty  and 
conscience  to  kill  Injuns,  the  red-skin  screamers, — 
that  refuses  to  defend  the  women,  the  splendifer- 
ous creatur's!  and  the  little  children,  the  squall-a- 
baby  d'ars  !  And  wharfo'  ?  Bec'ause  as  how  you're 
a  man  of  peace  and  no  fight,  you  superiferous, 
long-legged,  no-souled,  crittur  !  But  I'm  the  gen- 
tleman to  make  a  man  of  you.  So  down  with 
your  gun,  and  'tarnal  death  to  me,  I'll  whip  the 
cowardly  devil  out  of  you." 

"  Friend,"  said  Nathan,  his  humility  yielding  to 
a  feeling  of  contempt,  "  thee  is  theeself  a  cow- 
ardly person,  or  thee  w^ould  n't  seek  a  quarrel 
with  one,  thee  know^s,  can't  fight  thee.  Thee  would 
not  be  so  ready  with  thee  match." 

With  that,  he  stooped  to  gather  up  his  skins,  a 
proceeding  that  Stackpole,  against  whom  the 
laugh  was  turned  by  this  sally  of  Nathan's,  re- 
sisted by  catching  him  by  the  nape  of  the  neck, 


IVICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  69 

twirling  him  round,  and  making  as  if  he  really 
would  have  beaten  him. 

Even  this  the  peaceful  Nathan  bore  without 
anger  or  murmuring;  but  his  patience  fled,  when 
Stackpole,  turning  to  the  little  dog,  which  by 
bristling  its  back  and  growling,  expressed  a  half 
inclination  to  take  up  its  master's  quarrel,  applied 
his  foot  to  its  ribs  with  a  violence  that  sent  it 
roUing  some  five  or  six  yards  down  the  hill,  w' here 
it  lay  for  a  time  yelping  and  whining  with  pain. 

"  Friend  !"  said  Nathan,  sternly,  "  thee  is  but  a 
dog  theeself,  to  harm  the  creature !  What  will 
thee  have  with  me  ?' 

"  A  fight !  a  fight,  I  tell  thee  !"  replied  Captain 
Ralph,  ''  till  I  teach  thy  leatherified  conscience 
the  new  doctrines  of  Kentucky." 

"  Fight  thee  I  cannot  and  dare  not,"  said  Na- 
than; and  then  added,  much  to  the  surprise  of 
Forrester,  who,  sharing  his  indignation  at  the 
brutality  of  his  tormentor,  had  approached  to 
drive  the  fellow  off, — "  But  if  thee  must  have 
thee  deserts,  thee  shall  have  them. — Thee  prides 
theeself  upon  thee  courage  and  strength — will  thee 
adventure  with  me  a  friendly  faJl  ?" 

"  Hurrah  for  Bloody  Nathan !"  cried  the  young 
men,  vastly  delighted  at  his  unwonted  spirit,  while 
Captain  Ralph  himself  expressed  his  pleasure,  by 
leaping  into  the  air,  crowing,  and  dashing  off*  his 
hat,  which  he  kicked  down  the  hill  with  as  much 
good  will  as  he  had  previously  bestowed  upon  the 
little  dog. 

"  Otf  with  your  leather  night-cap,  and  down 
with  your  rifle,"  he  cried,  giving  his  ov/n  weapon 
into  the  hands  of  a  looker-on,  "  and  scrape  some 
of  the  grease  off"  your  jacket ;  for,  'tarnal  death 
to  me,  I  shall  give  you  the  Virginny  lock,  fling 
you  head-fo'most,  and  you'll  find  yourself,  in  a 


70  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

twinkling,  sticking  fast  right  in  the  centre  of  the 
'arth  !" 

"  Thee  may  find  theeself  mistaken,"  said  Na- 
than, giving  up  his  gun  to  one  of  the  young  men, 
but  instead  of  rejecting  his  hat,  pulling  it  down 
tight  over  his  brows.  "There  is  locks  taught 
among  the  mountains  of  Bedford  that  may  be  as 
good  as  them  learned  on  the  hills  of  Virginia. — I 
am  ready  for  thee." 

"  Cock-a-doodle-doo !"  cried  Ralph  Stackpole, 
springing  tow^ards  bis  man,  and  clapping  his 
hands,  one  on  Nathan's  left  shoulder,  the  other  on 
his  right  hip :  "  Are  you  ready  ?" 

"  I  am,"  replied  Nathan. 

"  Down  then,  you  go,  w^ar  you  a  buflfalo  !*' 
And  with  that  the  captain  of  horse-thieves  put 
forth  his  strength,  which  was  very  great,  in  an 
effort  that  appeared  to  Roland  quite  irresistible ; 
though,  as  it  happened,  it  scarce  moved  Nathan 
from  his  position. 

"  Thee  is  mistaken,  friend  !"  he  cried,  exerting 
his  strength  in  return,  and  with  an  eflfect  that  i]p 
one  had  anticipated.  By  magic,  as  it  seemed,  the 
heels  of  the  captain  of  horse-thieves  were  sud- 
denly seen  flying  in  the  air,  his  head  aiming  at 
the  earth,  upon  which  it  as  suddenly  descended 
with  the  violence  of  a  bomb-shell;  and  there  it 
would  doubtless  have  burrowed,  like  the  afore- 
said implement  of  destruction,  had  the  soil  been 
soft  enough  for  the  purpose,  or  exploded  into  a 
thousand  fragments,  had  not  the  shell  been  double 
the  thickness  of  an  ordinary  skull. 

"  Huzza !  Bloody  Nathan  for  ever  !"  shouted 
the  delighted  villagers. 

"He  has  killed  the  man,"  said  Forrester;  "but 
bear  witness,  all,  the  fellow  provoked  his  fate." 

"  Thanks  to  you,  strannger  !  but  not  so  dead  as 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  71 

you  reckon,"  said  Ralph,  rising  to  his  feet,  and 
scratching  his  poll,  with  a  stare  of  comical  con- 
fusion. "  I  say,  strannger,  here's  my  shoulders, — 
but  whar's  my  head  ? — Do  you  reckon  I  had  the 
worst  of  it  t" 

"  Huzza  for  Bloody  Nathan  Slaughter !  He  has 
w^hipped  the  ramping  tiger  of  Salt  River ;"  cried 
the  young  men  of  the  station. 

"  Well,  I  reckon  he  has,"  said  the  magnanimous 
Captain  Ralph,  picking  up  his  hat :  then  walking 
up  to  Nathan,  who  had  taken  his  dog  into  his 
arms,  to  examine  into  the  little  animal's  hurts,  he 
cried,  with  much  good-humoured  energy, — "  Thar's 
my  fo'-paw,  in  token  I've  had  enough  of  you,  and 
want  no  mo'.  But  I  say,  Nathan  Slaughter,"  he 
added,  as  he  grasped  the  victor's  hand,  "  it's  no 
thing  you  can  boast  of,  to  be  the  strongest  man  in 
Kentucky,  and  the  most  sevagarous  at  a  tussel, — 
h'yar  among  murdering  Injuns  and  scalping  run- 
negades,  and  keep  your  fists  off  their  top-knots. 
Thar's  my  idear  :  for  I  go  for  the  doctrine,  that 
every  able-bodied  man  should  sarve  his  country 
and  his  neighbours,  and  fight  their  foes ;  and  them 
that  does  is  men  and  gentlemen,  and  them  that 
don't  is  cowards  and  rascals,  that's  my  idear. 
And  so,  fawwell." 

Then,  executing  another  demivolte  or  two,  but 
with  much  less  spirit  than  he  had  previously  dis- 
played, he  returned  to  Colonel  Bruce,  saying, 
"Whar's  that  horse  you  promised  me,  cunnel? 
I'm  a  licked  man,  and  I  can't  stay  here  no  longer, 
no  way  no  how.  Lend  me  a  boss,  cunnel,  and 
trust  to  my  honour." 

"You  shall  have  a  beast,"  said  Bruce,  coolly; 
"  but  as  to  trusting  your  honour,  I  shall  do  no  such 
thing,  having  something  much  better  to  rely  on. 
Tom  will  show  you  a  horse  ;  and,  remember,  you 


72  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

are  to  leave  him  at  Logan's.  If  you  carry  him  a 
step  further,  captain,  you'll  never  carry  another. 
Judge  Lynch  is  looking  at  you  ;  and  so  bewar'." 

Having  uttered  this  hint,  he  left  the  captain  of 
horse-thieves  to  digest  it  as  he  might,  and  stepped 
up  to  Nathan,  who  had  seated  himself  on  a  stump, 
where,  with  his  skins  at  his  side,  his  little  dog  and 
his  rifle  betwixt  liis  legs,  he  sat  enduring  a  thou- 
sand sarcastic  encomiums  on  his  strength  and 
spirit,  with  as  many  sharp  denunciations  of  the 
peaceful  principles  that  robbed  the  community  of 
the  services  he  had  shown  himself  so  well  able  to 
render.  The  doctrine,  so  eloquently  avowed  by 
Captain  Ralph,  that  it  was  incumbent  upon  every 
able-bodied  man  to  fight  the  enemies  of  their  little 
state,  the  murderers  of  their  wives  and  children, 
was  a  canon  of  belief  imprinted  on  the  heart  of 
every  man  in  the  district;  and  Nathan's  failure  to 
do  so,  however  caused  by  his  conscientious  aver- 
sion to  bloodshed,  no  more  excused  him  from  con- 
tempt and  persecution  in  the  wilderness,  than  it 
did  others  of  his  persuasion  in  the  Eastern  repub- 
lics, during  the  war  of  the  revolution.  Ilis  ap- 
pearance, accordingly,  at  any  Station,  was  usually 
the  signal  for  reproach  and  abuse  ;  the  fear  of 
which  had  driven  him  almost  altogether  from  the 
society  of  his  fellow-men,  so  that  he  was  seldom 
seen  among  them,  except  when  impelled  by  ne- 
cessity, or  when  his  wanderings  in  the  woods  had 
acquainted  him  with  the  proximity  of  the  foes  of 
his  persecutors.  His  victory  over  the  captain  of 
horse-thieves  exposed  him,  on  this  occasion,  to 
ruder  and  angrier  remonstrances  than  usual  ; 
which  having  sought  in  vain  to  avert,  he  sat  down 
in  despair,  enduring  all  in  silence,  staring  from 
one  to  another  of  his  tormentors  with  lack-lustre 
eyes,  and  playing  with  the  silken  hair  of  his  dog. 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  7^ 

The  approach  of  the  captain  of  the  Station  pro- 
cured him  an  interval  of  peace,  which  he,  how- 
ever, employed  only  to  communicate  his  troubles 
to  the  little  cur,  that,  in  his  perplexity,  he  ad- 
dressed pretty  much  as  he  would  have  addressed  a 
human  friend  and  adviser:  "Well,  Peter,"  said 
he,  abstractedly,  and  with  a  heavy  sigh,  "  what 
does  thee  think  of  matters  and  things?'  To  which 
question,  the  ridiculousness  of  which  somewhat 
mollified  the  anger  of  the  young  men,  Peter  re- 
plied by  rubbing  his  nose  against  his  master's 
hand,  and  by  walking  a  step  or  two  down  the  hill, 
as  if  advising  an  instant  retreat  from  the  inhospi- 
table Station. 

"  Ay,  Peter,"  muttered  Nathan,  "  the  sooner  we 
go  the  better;  for  there  are  none  that  makes  us 
welcome.  But  nevertheless,  Peter,  we  must  have 
our  lead  and  our  powder;  and  we  must  tell  these 
poor  people  the  news." 

"And  pray,  Nathan,"  said  Colonel  Bruce,  rous- 
ing him  from  his  meditations,  "  what  may  your 
news  for  the  poor  people  be  ?  I  reckon  it  will  be 
much  wiser  to  tell  it  to  me  than  that  'ar  brute 
dog.  You  have  seen  the  Jibbenainosay,  perhaps, 
or  his  mark  thar-away  on  the  Kentucky  ?" 

"  Nay,"  said  Nathan.  "  But  there  is  news  from 
the  Injun  towns  of  a  great  gathering  of  Injuns 
with  their  men  of  w^ar  in  the  Miami  villages,  who 
design,  the  evil  creatures,  marching  into  the  dis- 
trict of  Kentucky  with  a  greater  army  than  was 
ever  seen  in  the  land  before." 

"  Let  them  come,  the  brutes,"  said  the  Ken- 
tuckian,  w^ith  a  laugh  of  scorn;  "it  will  save  us 
the  trouble  of  hunting  them  up  in  their  own 
towns." 

"  Nay,"  said  Nathan  :  "  but  perhaps  they  have 
come ;  for  the  prisoner  who  escaped,  and  who  is 

VOL.  I. — 7 


74  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

bearing  the  news  to  friend  Clark,  the  General  at 
the  Falls,  says  they  were  to  march  two  days  after 
he  fled  from  them." 

'^  And  whar  did  you  learn  this  precious  news  V 

"  At  the  lower  ford  of  Kentucky,  and  from  the 
man  himself,"  said  Nathan.  "  He  had  warned  the 
settlers  at  Lexington — " 

'•  That's  piper's  news,"  interrupted  one  of  the 
young  men.  "Captain  Ralph  told  us  all  about 
that ;  but  he  said  thar  war  nobody  at  Lexington 
believed  the  story." 

"  Then,"  said  Nathan,  meekly,  "  it  may  be  that 
the  man  was  mistaken.  Yet  persons  should  have 
a  care,  for  there  is  Injun  sign  all  along  the  Ken- 
tucky. But  that  is  my  story.  And  now,  friend 
Thomas,  if  thee  will  give  me  lead  and  pow^der  for 
my  skins,  I  will  be  gone,  and  trouble  thee  no 
longer." 

"  It's  a  sin  and  a  shame  to  waste  them  on  a 
man  who  only  employs  them  to  kill  deer,  b'ar, 
and  turkey,"  said  Bruce ;  "  yet  a  man  must  n't 
starve,  even  whar  he's  a  quaker.  So  go  you 
along  with  my  son  Dick  thar,  to  the  store,  and 
he'll  give  you  the  value  of  your  plunder. — A  poor, 
miserable  brute,  thar's  no  denying,"  he  continued, 
contemptuously,  as  Nathan,  obeying  the  direction, 
followed  Bruce's  second  son  into  the  fortress. 
"  The  man  has  some  spirit  now  and  then ;  but 
whar's  the  use  of  it,  while  he's  nothing  but  a  no- 
fight  quaker?  I  tried  to  reason  him  out  of  his 
notions ;  but  thar  war  no  use  in  trying,  no  how  I 
could  work  it.  I  have  an  idea  about  these  qua- 
kers " 

But  here,  luckily,  the  worthy  Colonel's  idea  was 
suddenly  put  to  flight  by  the  appearance  of  Telie 
Doe,  who  came  stealing  through  the  throng,  to 
summon  him  to  his  evening  meal, — a  call  which 


MCK  OF  THE  WOODS.  75 

neither  he  nor  his  guest  was  indisposed  to  obey ; 
and  taking  Tehe  by  the  hand  in  a  paternal  man- 
ner, he  ushered  the  young  soldier  back  into  the 
fort 

The  girl,  Roland  observed,  had  changed  her 
attire  at  the  bidding  of  her  protector,  and  now, 
though  dressed  with  the  greatest  simplicity,  ap- 
peared to  more  advantage  than  before.  He 
thought  her,  indeed,  quite  handsome,  and  pitying 
her  more  than  orphan  condition,  he  endeavoured 
to- show  her  such  kindness  as  was  in  his  power, 
by  addressing  to  her  some  complimentary  re- 
marks, as  he  walked  along  at  her  side.  His 
words,  however,  only  revived  the  terror  she  seem- 
ed really  to  experience,  whenever  any  one  ac- 
costed her  ;  seeing  which,  he  desisted,  doubting  if 
she  deserved  the  compliment  the  benevolent  Bruce 
had  so  recently  paid  to  her  good  sense* 


76  NICK  OF  THE  W00D5, 


CHAPTER  V. 


The  evening  meal  being  concluded,  and  a  few 
brief  moments  devoted  to  conversation  with  her 
new  friends,  Edith  was  glad,  when,  at  a  hint  from 
her  kinsman  as  to  the  early  hour  appointed  for 
setting  out  on  the  morrow,  she  was  permitted  to 
seek  the  rest  of  w'hich  she  stood  in  need.  Her 
chamber — and,  by  a  rare  exercise  of  hospitality, 
the  merit  of  which  she  appreciated,  since  she  w^as 
sensible  it  could  not  have  been  made  without  sa- 
crifice, she  occupied  it  alone — boasted  few  of  the 
luxuries,  few  even  of  the  comforts,  to  which  she 
had  been  accustomed  in  her  native  land,  and  her 
father's  house.  But  misfortune  had  taught  her 
spirit  humility ;  and  the  recollection  of  nights 
passed  in  the  desert,  with  only  a  thin  mattress  be- 
twixt her  and  the  naked  earth,  and  a  little  tent- 
cloth  and  the  boughs  of  trees  to  protect  her  from 
inclement  skies,  caused  her  to  regard  her  present 
retreat  with  such  feelings  of  satisfaction  as  she 
might  have  indulged  if  in  the  chamber  of  a 
palace. 

She  was  followed  to  the  apartment  by  a  bevy  of 
the  fair  Bruces,  all  solicitous  to  render  her  such 
assistance  as  they  could,  and  all,  perhaps,  equally 
anxious  to  indulge  their  admiration,  for  the  second 
or  third  time,  over  the  slender  store  of  finery, 
which  Edith  good-naturedly  opened  to  their  in- 
spection. In  this  way  the  time  fled  amain  until 
Mrs.  Bruce,  more  considerate  than  her  daughters. 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  77 

and  somewhat  scandalized  by  the  loud  commen- 
dations which  they  passed  on  sundry  articles  of 
dress  such  as  were  never  before  seen  in  Ken- 
tucky, rushed  into  the  chamber,  and  drove  them 
manfully  away. 

"  Poor,  ignorant  critturs  !"  said  she,  by  way  of 
apology,  "  they  know^s  no  better :  thar's  the  mis- 
chief of  being  raised  in  the  back-woods.  They'll 
never  I'arn  to  be  genteel,  thar's  so  many  common 
persons  comes  out  here  with  their  daughters.  I'm 
sure,  I  do  my  best  to  I'arn  'ern." 

With  these  words  she  tendered  her  own  good 
offices  to  Edith,  which  the  young  lady  declining 
with  many  thanks,  she  bade  her  good  night,  and, 
to  Edith's  great  relief,  left  her  to  herself  A. few 
moments  then  sufficed  to  complete  her  prepara- 
tions for  slumber,  which  being  effected,  she  threw 
herself  on  her  knees,  to  implore  the  further  favour 
of  the  orphan's  Friend,  who  had  conducted  her 
so  far  in  safety  on  her  journey. 

Whilst  thus  engaged,  her  mind  absorbed  in  the 
solemn  duty,  she  failed  to  note  that  another  visiter 
had  softly  stolen  into  the  apartment ;  and  accord- 
ingly, when  she  rose  from  her  devotions,  and  be- 
held a  female  figure  standing  in  the  distance, 
though  regarding  her  with  both  reverence  and 
timidity,  she  could  not  suppress  an  exclamation  of 
alarm. 

"  Do  not  be  afraid, — it  is  only  Telie  Doe,"  said 
the  visiter  with  a  low  and  trembling  voice :  "  I 
thought  you  would  want  some  one  to — to  take  the 
candle." 

"  You  are  very  good,"  replied  Edith,  who,  hav- 
ing scarcely  before  observed  the  humble  and  re- 
tiring maid,  and  supposing  her  to  be  one  of  her 
host's  children,  had  little  doubt  she  had  stolen  in 
to  indulge  her  curiosity  Hke  the  others,  although  at 
7* 


78  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

SO  Jate  a  moment,  as  to  authorize  a  little  cruelty 
on  the  part  of  the  guest.  "  I  am  very  tired  and 
sleepy,"  she  said,  creeping  into  bed,  hoping  that 
the  confession  would  be  understood  and  accepted 
as  an  apology.  She  then,  seeing  that  Telie  did 
not  act  upon  the  hint,  intimated  that  she  had  no 
further  occasion  for  the  light,  and  bade  her  good- 
night. But  Telie,  instead  of  departing,  maintain- 
ed her  stand  at  the  little  rude  table,  where,  besides 
the  candle,  were  several  articles  of  apparel  that 
Edith  had  laid  out  in  readiness  for  the  morning, 
and  upon  which  she  thought  the  girl's  eyes  were 
fixed. 

"  If  you  had  come  a  little  earlier,"  said  Edith, 
with  unfailing  good-nature,  "  I  should  have  been 
glad  to  show  you  any  thing  I  have.  But  now^,  in- 
deed, it  is  too  late,  and  all  mv  packages  are  made 
up " 

"  It  is  not  ^//«/,"  interrupted  the  maiden  hastily, 
but  with  trepidation.  "  No,  I  did  not  want  to  trou- 
ble you.     But " 

"But  what?"  demanded  Edith,  with  surprise, 
yet  with  kindness,  for  she  observed  the  agitation 
of  the  speaker. 

"Lady,"  said  Telie,  mustering  resolution,  and 
stepping  to  the  bed-side,  "  if  you  will  not  be  angry 
with  me,  I  would, — I  would " 

"  You  would  ask  a  favour,  perhaps  ?"  said 
Edith,  encouraging  her  with  a  smile. 

"  Yes,  that  is  it,"  replied  the  girl,  dropping  on 
her  knees,  not  so  much,  however,  as  it  appeared, 
from  abasement  of  spirit,  as  to  bring  her  lips 
nearer  to  Edith's  ear,  that  she  might  speak  in  a 
low^er  voice.  "I  know,  from  w^hat  they  say,  you 
are  a  great  lady,  and  that  you  once  had  many 
people  to  wait  upon  you  ;  and  now  you  are  in  the 
wild  woods,  among  strangers,  and  none  about  you 


-    NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  79 

but  men."  Edith  replied  with  a  sigh,  and  Tehe, 
timorously  grasping  at  the  hand  lying  nearest  her 
own,  murmured  eagerly,  "  If  you  would  but  take 
me  with  you,  I  am  used  to  the  w^oods,  and  I  would 
be  your  servant." 

"  Your  exclaimed  Edith,  her  surprise  getting 
the  better  of  her  sadness.  "  Your  mother  would 
surely  never  consent  to  your  being  a  servant  ?" 

"  My  mother  ?"  muttered  Telie, — "  I  have  no 
mother, — no  relations." 

"  What !  Mr.  Bruce  is  not  then  your  father  V 

"  No, — I  have  no  father.  Yes, — that  is,  I  have 
a  father;  but  he  has, — he  has  turned  Indian."- 

These  w^ords  were  w^hispered  rather  than  spo- 
ken, yet  whispered  with  a  tone  of  grief  and  shame 
that  touched  Edith's  feelings.  Her  pity  was  ex- 
pressed in  her  countenance,  and  Telie,  reading  the 
gentle  sympathy  infused  into  every  lovely  fea- 
ture, bent  over  the  hand  she  had  clasped,  and 
touched  it  with  her  lips. 

"  I  have  told  you  the  truth,"  she  said,  mourn- 
fully :  "  one  like  me  should  not  be  ashamed  to  be  a 
servant.  And  so,  lad3%  if  you  will  take  me,  I  will 
go  with  you  and  serve  you ;  and  poor  and  igno- 
rant as  I  am,  I  can  serve  you, — yes,  ma'am,"  she 
added,  eagerly,  "  I  can  serve  you  more  and  better 
than  you  think, — indeed,  indeed  I  can." 

"Alas,  poor  child,"  said  Edith,  "I  am  one  who 
must  learn  to  do  without  attendance  and  service. 
I  have  no  home  to  give  you." 

"  I  have  heard  it  all,"  said  Telie ;  "  but  I  can 
live  in  the  woods  with  you,  till  you  have  a  house ; 
and  then  I  can  work  for  you,  and  you'll  never  re- 
pent taking  me, — no,  indeed,  for  I  know  all  that's 
to  be  done  by  a  woman  in  a  new  land,  and  you 
don't ;  and  indeed,  if  you  have  none  to  help  you, 
it  would  kill  you,  it  would  indeed  :  for  it  is  a  hard, 


80  MCK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

hard  time  in  the  woods  for  a  woman  that  has  been 
brought  up  tenderly." 

"  Alas,  child,"  said  Edith,  perhaps  a  little  pet- 
tishly, for  she  liked  not  to  dwell  upon  such  gloomy 
anticipations,  "  why  should  you  be  discontented 
with  the  home  you  have  already?  Surely,  there 
are  none  here  unkind  to  you  ?" 

"  No,"  replied  the  maiden,  "  they  are  very  good 
to  me,  and  Mr.  Bruce  has  been  a  father  to  me. 
But  then  I  am  not  his  child,  and  it  is  wrong  of  me 
to  live  upon  him,  who  has  so  many  children  of  his 
own.  And  then  my  father — all  talk  of  my  father; 
all  the  people  here  hate  him,  though  he  has  never 
done  them  harm,  and  I  know, — yes,  I  know  it  well 
enough,  though  they  won't  believe  it, — that  he 
keeps  the  Indians  from  hurting  them;  but  they 
hate  him  and  curse  him ;  and,  oh,  I  wish  I  was 
away,  where  I  should  never  hear  them  speak  of 
him  more.  Perhaps  they  don't  know  any  thing 
about  him  at  the  Falls,  and  then  there  will  be 
nobody  to  call  me  the  w'hite  Indian's  daughter." 

"  And  does  Mr.  Bruce,  or  his  wife,  know^  of 
your  desire  to  leave  him  ?" 

"  No,"  said  Telle,  her  terrors  reviving ;  "  but  if 
you  should  ask  them  for  me,  then  they  w^ould 
agree  to  let  me  go.  He  told  the  Captain, — that's 
Captain  Forrester, — he  would  do  any  thing  for 
him ;  and  indeed  he  would,  for  he  is  a  good  man, 
and  he  will  do  what  he  says." 

"How  strange,  how  improper,  nay,  how  un- 
grateful then,  if  he  be  a  good  man,"  said  Edith, 
"  that  you  should  wish  to  leave  him  and  his  kind 
family,  to  live  among  persons  entirely  unknown. 
Be  content,  my  poor  maid.  You  have  little  save 
imaginary  evils  to  afflict  you.  You  are  happier 
here  than  you  can  be  among  strangers."     . 

Telie  clasped  her  hands  in  despair;   "I  shall 


NICK  or  THE  WOODS.  81 

never  be  happy  here,  nor  any  where.  But  take 
me,"  she  added  eagerly,  "  take  me  for  your  own 
sake ; — for  it  will  be  good  for  you  to  have  me 
with  you  in  the  woods,  it  will,  indeed  it  will." 

"  It  cannot  be,"  said  Edith,  gently.  But  the 
maiden  would  scarce  take  a  refusal.  Her  terrors 
had  been  dissipated  by  her  having  ventured  so  far 
on  speech,  and  she  now^  pursued  her  object  with 
an  imploring  and  passionate  earnestness  that  both 
surprised  and  embarrassed  Edith,  wdiile  it  in- 
creased her  sympathy  for  the  poor  bereaved 
pleader.  She  endeavoured  to  convince  her,  if  not 
of  the  utter  folly  of  her  desires,  at  least  of  the  im- 
possibihty  there  was  on  her  part  of  granting  them. 
She  succeeded,  however,  in  producing  conviction 
only  on  one  point:  Telle  perceived  that  her  suit 
was  not  to  be  granted :  of  which  as  soon  as  she 
was  satisfied,  she  left  off  entreaty;  and  rose  to  her 
feet  with  a  saddened  and  humbled  visage,  and 
then  taking  up  the  candle,  she  left  the  fair  stranger 
to  her  repose. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Roland  also  was  preparing 
for  slumber;  and  finding,  as  indeed  he  could  not 
avoid  seeing,  that  the  hospitality  of  his  host  had 
placed  the  males  of  the  family  under  the  necessity 
of  taking  their  rest  in  the  open  air  on  the  porch, 
he  insisted  upon  passing  the  night  in  the  same 
place  in  their  company.  In  fact,  the  original  ha- 
bitation of  the  back-woodsman  seldom  boasted 
more  than  two  rooms  in  all,  and  these  none  of  the 
largest;  and  when  emigrants  arrived  at  a  Station, 
there  was  little  attempt  made  to  find  shelter  for 
any  save  their  women  and  children,  to  whom  the 
men  of  the  settlement  readily  gave  up  their  own 
quarters,  to  share  those  of  their  male  visiters  un- 
der the  blanket-tents  which  were  spread  before 
the  doors.     This,  to  men  who  had  thus  passed  the 


82  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

nights  for  several  weeks  in  succession,  was  any 
thing  but  hardship;  and  when  the  weather  was 
w^arm  and  dry,  they  could  congratulate  them- 
selves on  sleeping  in  greater  comfort  than  their 
sheltered  companions.  Of  this  Forrester  was  well 
aware,  and  he  took  an  early  period  to  communi- 
cate his  resolution  of  rejecting  the  unmanly  luxury 
of  a  bed,  and  sleeping  like  a  soldier,  wrapped  in 
his  cloak,  with  his  saddle  for  a  pillow.  In  this 
way,  the  night  proving  unexpectedly  sultry,  he 
succeeded  in  enjoying  more  delightful  and  refresh- 
ing slumbers  than  blessed  his  kinswoman  in  her 
bed  of  down.  The  song  of  the  katydid  and  the 
cry  of  the  whippoorwill  came  more  sweetly  to  his 
ears  from  the  adjacent  woods;  and  the  breeze  that 
had  stirred  a  thousand  leagues  of  forest  in  its 
flight,  whispered  over  his  cheek  with  a  more  en- 
chanting music  than  it  made  among  the  chinks 
and  crannies  of  the  wall  by  Edith's  bed-side.  A 
few  idle  dreams, — recollections  of  home,  mingled 
with  the  anticipated  scenes  of  the  future,  the  deep 
forest,  the  w^ild  beast,  and  the  lurking  Indian, — 
amused,  w^ithout  harassing,  his  sleeping  mind; 
and  it  was  not  until  the  first  gray  of  dawn  that  he 
experienced  any  interruption.  He  started  up  sud- 
denly, his  ears  still  tingling  with  the  soft  tones  of 
an  unknown  voice,  which  had  whispered  in  them, 
"  Cross  the  river  by  the  Lower  Ford, — there  is 
danger  at  the  Upper." — He  stared  around,  but 
saw  nothing;  all  was  silent  around  him,  save  the 
deep  breathing  of  the  sleepers  at  his  side.  "  Who 
spoke?"  he  demanded  in  a  whisper,  but  received 
no  reply.  "  River, — Upper  and  Lower  Ford ; — 
danger? — "  he  muttered:  "now  I  would  have 
sworn  some  one  spoke  to  me:  and  yet  I  must 
have  dreamed  it.  Strange  things,  dreams, — 
thoughts  iu  freedom,  loosed  from  the  chains  of  as» 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.     '  83 

sociation, — temporary  mad-fits  undoubtedly:  mar- 
vellous impressions  they  produce  on  the  organs  of 
sense;  see,  hear,  smell,  taste,  touch,  more  exqui- 
sitely without  the  organs  than  with  them — What's 
the  use  of  organs?  There's  the  poser — I  think, — 
I — "  but  here  he  ceased  thinking  altogether,  his 
philosophy  having  served  the  purpose  such  philo- 
sophy usually  does,  and  wrapped  him  a  second 
time  in  the  arms  of  Morpheus.  He  opened  his 
eyes  almost  immediately,  as  he  thought;  but  his 
morning  nap  had  lasted  half  an  hour;  the  dawn 
was  already  purple  and  violet  in  the  sky,  his  com- 
panions had  left  his  side,  and  the  hum  of  voices 
and  the  sound  of  footsteps  in  and  around  the  Sta- 
tion, told  him  that  his  fellow  exiles  were  already 
preparing  to  resume  their  journey. 

"  A  brave  morrow  to  you,  captain  !"  said  the 
commander  of  the  fortress,  the  thunder  of  whose 
footsteps,  as  he  approached  the  house  Xvith  un- 
commonly fierce  strides,  had  perhaps  broken  his 
slumbers.  A  frown  was  on  his  brow,  and  the 
grasp  of  his  hand,  in  which  every  finger  seemed 
doing  the  duty  of  a  boa-constrictor,  spoke  of  a 
spirit  up  in  arms,  and  wrestling  with  passion. 

"  What  is  the  matter  ?"  asked  Roland. 

''Matter  that  consarns  you  and  me  more  than 
any  other  two  persons  in  the  etarnal  world !"  said 
Bruce,  with  such  energy  of  utterance  as  nothing 
but  rage  could  supply.  "  Thar  has  been  a  black  wolf 
in  the  pin-fold, — alias,  as  they  used  to  say  at  the 
court-house,  Captain  Ralph  Stackpole;  and  the 
end  of  it  is,  war  I  never  to  tell  another  truth  in  my 
life,  that  your  blooded  brown  horse  has  absquotu- 
lated !" 

"  Absquotulated  /"  echoed  Forrester,  amazed  as 
much  at  the  word  as  at  the  fierce  visage  of  his 
friend, — "what  is  that?     Is  the  horse  hurt?" 


84  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

"  Stolen  away,  sir,  by  the  etarnal  Old  Scratch  ! 
Carried  otrby  Roaring  Ralph  Stackpole,  while  I, 
like  a  brnte,  w'ar  sound  a-sleeping !  And  h'yar's 
the  knavery  of  the  thing,  sir !  the  unpronounce- 
able rascality,  sir  ! — I  loaned  the  brute  one  of  my 
own  crittur's,  just  to  be  rid  of  him,  and  have  him 
out  of  harm's  way;  for  I  had  a  forewarning,  the 
brute,  that  his  mouth  w^ar  a-w^atering  after  the  new 
beasts  in  the  pin-fold,  and  after  the  brown  horse  in 
partickelar!  And  sol  loaned  him  a  horse,  and 
sent  him  off  to  Logan's.  Well,  sir,  and  what  does 
the  brute  do  but  ride  off,  for  a  make-believe,  to  set 
us  easy  ;  for  he  knew,  the  brute,  if  he  war  in  sight 
of  us,  we  should  have  had  guards  over  the  cattle 
all  night  long ;  well,  sir,  down  he  sot  in  ambush, 
till  all  war  quiet;  and  then  he  stole  back,  and  turn- 
ing my  own  horse  among  the  others,  as  if  to  say, 
'  Thar's  the  beast  that  I  borrowed,' — it  war  a  won- 
der the  brute  war  so  honest ! — picked  the  best  of  the 
gathering,  your  blooded  brown  horse,  sir!  and  all 
the  while,  I  war  sleeping  like  a  brute,  and  leaving 
the  guest  in  my  own  house  to  be  robbed  by  Cap- 
tain Ralph  Stackpole,  the  villian  !" 

"  If  it  be  possible  to  follow  the  rascal,"  said  Ro- 
land, giving  way  to  wrath  himself,  "  T  must  do  so, 
and  without  a  moment's  delay.  I  would  to  hea- 
ven I  had  known  this  earlier." 

"  Whar  war  the  use,"  said  Bruce;  "whar  war 
the  use  of  disturbing  a  tired  man  in  his  nap,  and 
he  a  guest  of  mine  too  ?' 

"  The  advantage  would  have  been,"  said  Ro- 
land, a  little  testily,  "  that  the  pursuit  could  have 
been  instantly  begun." 

''  And  war  it  7iot  V  said  the  colonel.  "  Thar 
war  not  two  minutes  lost  after  the  horse  war  miss- 
ing, afore  my  son  Tom  and  a  dozen  more  of  the 
best  woodsmen  war  mounted  on  the  fleetest  horses 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  85 

m  the  settlement,  and  galloping  after,  right  on  the 
brute's  trail." 

"Thanks,  my  friend,"  said  Roland,  with  a  CQr- 
"dial  grasp  of  hand.  "  The  horse  will  be  reco- 
vered ?" 

"  Thar's  no  denying  it,"  said  Bruce,  "  if  a  fresh 
leg  can  outrun  a  weary  one:  and  besides,  the  brute 
war  not  content  with  the  best  horse,  but  he  must 
have  the  second  best  too,  that's  Major  Smalleye's 
Iw^o-y'ar-old  pony.  He  has  an  eye  for  a  horse, 
the  etarnal  skirmudgeon  !  but  the  pony  will  be  the 
death  of  him ;  for  he's  skeary,  and  will  keep 
Ralph  slow  in  the  path.  No,  sir ;  w^e'll  have  your 
brown  horse  before  you  can  say  Jack  Robinson. 
But  the  intolerability  of  the  thing,  sir,  is  that 
Ralph  Stackpole  should  steal  my  guest's  horse, 
sir !  But  it's  the  end  of  his  thieving,  the  brute,  or 
thar's  no  snakes !  I  told  him  Lynch  war  out,  the 
brute,  and  I  told  the  boys  to  take  car'  I  war  not 
found  lying ;  and  I  reckon  they  won't  forget  me  ! 
I  like  the  crittur,  thar's  no  denying,  for  he's  a 
screamer  among  Injuns  ;  but  thar's  no  standing  a 
horse-thief!  no,  sir,  thar's  no  standing  a  horse- 
thief!" 

The  only  evil  consequence  of  this  accident 
which  was  apprehended,  was  that  the  march  of 
the  exiles  must  be  delayed  until  the  soldier's  horse 
was  recovered,  or  Roland  himself  left  behind 
until  the  animal  was  brought  in^  unless,  indeed, 
he  chose  to  accept  another  freely  offered  him  by 
his  gallant  host,  and  trust  to  having  his  own 
charger  restored  on  some  future  occasion.  He 
w^as  himself  unwilling  that  the  progress  of  more 
than  a  hundred  human  beings  towards  the  long 
sighed  for  land  of  promise  should  be  delayed  a 
moment  on  his  account ;  and  for  this  reason  he 
exhorted   his  nominal   superior  to  hasten  the  pre- 

VOL.  I. — 8 


86  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

parations  for  departure,  without  thinking  of  him. 
His  first  resolution  in  relation  to  his  own  course, 
was  to  proceed  with  the  company,  leaving  his 
horse  to  be  sent  after  him,  when  recovered.  He 
was  loath,  however,  to  leave  the  highly-prized  and 
long-tried  charger  behind;  and  Colonel  Bruce 
taking  advantage  of  the  feeling,  and  representing 
the  openness  and  safety  of  the  road,  the  shortness 
of  the  day's  journey,  (for  the  next  Station  at 
which  the  exiles  intended  lodging  was  scarce 
twenty  miles  distant,)  and  above  all,  promising, 
if  he  remained,  to  escort  him  thither  with  a  band 
of  his  young  men,  to  whom  the  excursion  would 
be  but  an  agreeable  frolic,  the  soldier  changed  his 
mind,  and,  in  an  evil  hour,  as  it  afterwards  ap- 
peared, consented  to  remain  until  Brown  Briareus 
was  brought  in, — provided  this  should  happen  be- 
fore mid-day :  at  which  time,  if  the  horse  did  not 
appear,  it  was  agreed  he  should  set  out,  trusting 
to  his  good  fortune  and  the  friendly  zeal  of  his 
host,  for  the  future  recovery  and  restoration  of  his 
charger.  Later  than  mid-day  he  was  resolved 
not  to  remain ;  for  however  secure  the  road,  it 
was  wiser  to  pursue  it  in  company  than  alone ; 
nor  would  he  have  consented  to  remain  a  moment, 
had  there  appeared  the  least  impediment  to  his 
joining  the  companions  of  his  exile  before  night- 
fall. 

His  measures  were  taken  accordingly.  His 
baggage-horses,  under  the  charge  of  the  younger 
of  the  two  negroes,  were  sent  on  with  the  band; 
the  other,  an  old  and  faithful  slave  of  his  father, 
being  retained  as  a  useful  appendage  to  a  party 
containing  his  kinswoman,  from  whom  he,  of 
course,  saw  no  reason  to  be  separated.  To  Edith 
herself,  the  delay  was  far  from  being  disagreeable. 
It  promised  a  gay  and  cheerful  gallop  through  the 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  87 

forest,  instead  of  the  dull,  plodding,  funeral-like 
march  to  which  she  had  been  day  after  day  mo- 
notonously accustomed.  She  assented,  therefore, 
to  the  arrangement,  and,  like  her  kinsman,  beheld, 
in  the  fresh  light  of  sun-rise,  without  a  sigh,  with- 
out even  a  single  foreboding  of  evil,  the  departure 
of  the  train  of  emigrants,  with  whom  she  had 
journeyed  in  safety  so  many  long  and  weary 
leagues  through  the  desert. 

They  set  out  in  high  spirits,  after  shaking  hands 
with  their  hosts,  at  the  gates,  and  saluting  them 
with  cheers,  which  they  repeated  in  honour  of 
their  young  captain;  and,  in  a  few  moments,  the 
whole  train  had  vanished,  as  if  swallowed  up  by 
the  dark  forest. 


88  KICK  OF  THE  WOODS-- 


CHAPTER  VL 


WiTHiiV  an  hour  after  the  emigrants  had  se!: 
out,  the  sky,  which  had  previously  been  clear  and 
radiant,  began  to  be  overcast  with  clouds,  drop- 
ping occasional  rains,  which  Roland  scarcely  ob- 
sei'ved  with  regret,  their  effect  on  the  sultry  at- 
mosphere being  highly  agreeable  and  refreshing.. 
They  continued  thus  to  fall  at  intervals  until  nine 
o'clock  ;  when  Roland,  as  he  sat  on  the  porch  de- 
bating with  Bruce  the  probabilities  of  their  con- 
tinuance, was  roused  by  a  shout  from  the  outer 
village,  and  looking  up,  he  beheld,  to  his  great  de- 
hght,  Richard  Bruce,  the  second  son  of  his  host, 
a  lad  of  sixteen,  ride  into  the  enclosure,  leading  in 
triumph  his  recovered  charger. 

"  Thar's  the  brute,  strannger !"  said  he,  with 
uncommon  glee  :  "  he  war  too  hard  a  boss  for 
Ralph's  riding  ;  and,  I  reckon,  if  he  had  n*t  been, 
you  would  n't  have  had  him  so  easy,  for  he's  a 
peeler  at  run,  trot,  or  gallop,  he  is,  I  tell  you !  It's 
bad  luck  for  Stackpole  to  be  flung  by  man  and 
beast  two  days  hand-running, — first  by  Bloody 
Nathan,  then  by  a  stolen  crittur !" 

"And  whar  is  the  brute,  Stackpole?  and  what 
have  you  done  with  him?"  demanded  Bruce. 

"  Thar,  father,  you're  too  hard  t^:>r  me,"  replied 
the  youth  ;  "  but  I'll  tell  you  all  I  know  on  it. — You 
need  n't  look  at  his  legs,  captain,  for  they're  all  as 
sound  as  hickory :  the  crittur's  a  bit  worried  with 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  80 

his  morning's  work ;  but  that's  nothing  to  speak 
on." 

The  lad's  story  was  soon  told.  The  track  of  the 
horse-thief  had  been  followed  through  the  woods  ; 
and  it  was  soon  seen,  from  it's  irregularity,  that 
he  had  made  an  unlucky  selection  of  beasts,  both 
being  so  restive  and  rebellious,  that,  it  was  ob- 
vious, he  had  found  it  no  easy  matter  to  urge 
them  along.  A  place  was  found  where  he  ap- 
peared to  have  been  thrown  by  the  turbulent 
Briareus,  which  he  seemed  afterw^ards  to  have 
pursued,  mounted  on  the  pony,  in  the  vain  hope 
of  retaking  the  mettlesome  charger,  until  per- 
suaded of  his  inability,  or  afraid,  from  the  direc- 
tion in  which  the  animal  had  fled,  of  being  led 
back  again  to  the  settlement.  His  track,  after 
abandoning  the  chase,  was  as  plain  as  that  left  by 
the  war-horse,  and  was  followed  by  the  main  body 
of  pursuers;  while  Richard  and  two  or  three  others, 
taking  the  latter,  had  the  good  fortune  to  find  and 
recover  the  animal  as  he  was  solacing  himself, 
after  his  morning  adventures,  in  a  grassy  wood, 
scarce  two  miles  from  the  Station.  What  had  be- 
come of  Stackpole  the  lad  knew  not,  but  had  no 
doubt,  as  he  added,  with  a  knowing  look,  "  that 
Lynch's  boys  would  soon  give  a  good  account  of 
him ;  for  Major  Smalleye  war  as  mad  as  a  beaten 
b'ar  about  the  two-y'ar-old  pony." 

"Well,"  said  the  father,  "I  reckon  the  brute 
will  deserve  all  he  may  come  by ;  and  thar's  no 
use  in  mourning  him.  Thar's  as  good  Injun- 
fighters  as  he,  left  in  Kentucky,  thar's  the  com- 
fort ;  and  thar's  no  denying,  men  will  be  much 
easier  about  their  horses." 

With  this  consoling  assurance,  in  which  Roland 
saw  implied  the  visitation  of  the  deadliest  ven- 
geance on  the  head  of  the  offender,  Bruce  pro- 
8* 


90  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS, 

ceeded  to  congratulate  him  on  the  recovery  of 
Brown  Briareus,  and  to  intimate  his  readiness, 
after  the  animal  had  been  allowed  a  httle  rest, 
which  it  evidently  needed,  to  marshal  his  band  of 
young  men,  and  conduct  him  on  his  w^ay  after  the 
exiles.  But  fate  willed  that  the  friendly  intention 
should  never  be  put  into  execution,  and  that  the 
young  soldier  should  go  forth  on  his  pilgrimage- 
unattended  and  unprotected. 

Within  the  space  of  half  an  hour,  the  clouds, 
which  seemed  previousl}^  to  have  discharged  all 
their  moisture,  collected  into  a  dense  canopy, 
darkening  the  whole  heaven,  and  rumbling  with 
thunder,  that  became  every  moment  louder  and 
heavier.  Then  came  gusts  of  wind,  groaning 
through  the  forest,  rattling  among  the  dead  limbs 
of  the  girdled  trees,  and  whistling  over  the  pali- 
sades of  the  fort.  These  were  succeeded  by 
louder  peals  of  thunder,  and  vivid  flashes  of  light- 
ning, which  continued  and  increased,  until  the 
tempest,  for  such  it  w^as,  burst  in  fury,  discharging 
deluges  of  rain,  that  fell  with  unintermitting  vio- 
lence until  an  hour  or  more  after  mid-day. 

This  was  a  circumstance,  which,  as  it  necessa- 
rily deferred  the  niomcnt  of  his  setting  outy  caused 
Forrester  a  little  uneasiness;  but  he  soon  came  to 
beheve  he  had  reason  to  congratulate  himself  on 
its  occurrence,  since  it  was  scarce  possible  the 
band  would  continue  their  journey  in  such  a  storm  ; 
and,  indeed,  Bruce  was  of  opinion  that  the  day's 
march  would  be  ended  on  the  banks  of  the  river, 
— one  of  the  principal  forks  of  the  Salt, — but  little 
more  than  ten  miles  from  his  Station;  where,  if  the 
exiles  were  wdse,  they  would  pitch  their  camp,  wait- 
ing for  the  subsidence  of  the  w'aters.  This  was  a 
point  that  Roland  might  be  expected  to  reach  in  a 
ride  of  three  or  four  hours  at  most;  which  consi- 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  9t 

deration  not  only  satisfied  him  under  the  delay, 
but  almost  made  him  resolve  to  defer  his  setting- 
out  until  the  following  morning,  that  his  kinswo- 
man might  have  the  advantage  of  sleeping  a  se- 
cond time  under  the  shelter  of  a  roof,  rather  than 
be  compelled  to  exchange  it  for  the  chill  and  humid 
forest. 

It  was  while  he  was  balancing  this  thought  in 
his  mind,  and  watching  with  a  gladdened  eye  the 
first  flash  of  sunshine,  breaking  through  the  parted 
clouds,  that  a  shout,  louder  than  that  which  had 
proclaimed  the  recovery  of  his  steed,  but  of  a 
wild  and  mournful  character,  arose  from  the  outer 
village,  and  a  horseman,  covered  with  mud,  reek- 
ing with  rain,  and  reeling  in  the  saddle  with  fa- 
tigue and  exhaustion,  rode  into  the  fort,  followed 
by  a  crowd  of  men,  women,  and  children,  all  tes- 
tifying, by  their  looks  and  exclamations,  that  he 
was  the  bearer  of  alarming  news.  And  such  in- 
deed he  was,  as  was  shown  by  the  first  words  he 
answered  in  reply  to  Bruce's  demand  "  what  was 
the  matter?" 

"There  are  a  thousand  Indians,"  he  said,  "Shaw- 
nees,  Delawares,  Wyandots,  Miamies, — all  the 
tribes  of  the  North, — laying  siege  to  Bryant's  Sta- 
tion, and  perhaps  at  this  moment  they  are  burn- 
ing and  murdering  at  Lexington.  Men,  Colonel 
Bruce !  send  us  all  your  men,  without  a  moment's 
delay;  and  send  off  for  Logan,  and  his  forces ;  de- 
spatch some  one  who  can  ride,  for  I  can  sit  a 
horse  no  longer." 

"  Whar's  Dick  Bruce?"  cried  the  Kentuckian; 
and  the  son  answering,  he  continued,  "  Mount  the 
roan  Long-legs,  you  brute,  and  ride  to  St.  Asaph's 
in  no  time.  Tell  Gunnel  Logan  what  you  h'ar; 
and  add,  that  before  he  can  draw  girth,  I  shall  be, 
with  every  fighting-man  in  my  fort,  on  the  north 


92  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

side  of  Kentucky.  Ride,  you  brute,  ride  for  your 
life;  and  do  you  take  car'  you  conae  along  with 
the  Gunnel;  for  it's  time  you  war  trying  your 
hand  at  an  Injun  top-knot.  Ride,  you  brute, 
ride !" 

"  Wah — wah — wah — wah  !"  w^hooped  the  boy, 
like  a  young  Indian,  flying  to  obey  the  order,  and 
exulting  in  the  expectation  of  combat. 

"Sound  horn,  you  Samuel  Sharp!"  cried  the 
father.  "  You,  Ben  Jones,  and  some  more  of  you, 
ride  out  and  rouse  the  settlements;  and,  some  of 
you,  hunt  up  Tom  Bruce  and  the  Regulators:  it 
war  a  pity  they  hanged  Ralph  Stackpole;  for  he 
fights  Injuns  like  a  wolverine.  Tell  all  them  that 
ar'n't  ready  to  start,  to  follow  at  a  hard  gallop, 
and  join  me  at  the  ford  of  Kentucky;  and  them 
that  can't  join  me  thar,  let  them  follow  to  Lex- 
ington; and  them  that  don't  find  me  thar,  let  them 
follow  to  Bryant's,  or  to  any-whar  whar  thar's  In- 
juns !  Hurrah,  you  brutes!  whar's  your  guns  and 
your  horses'?  your  knives  and  your  tomahawks? 
If  thar's  a  thousand  Injuns,  or  the  half  of  'em, 
thar's  meat  for  all  of  you.  Whar's  Ikey  Jones, 
the  fifer?  Let's  have  Yankee-Doodle  and  the 
Rogue's  March;  for,  by  the  etarnal  Old  Scratch, 
all  them  w^hite-men  that  ar'n't  a-horse-back  in 
twenty-five  minutes,  are  rogues  worse  than  red 
Injuns  ! — Hurrah  for  Kentucky  !" 

The  spirit  of  the  worthy  officer  of  militia  infused 
animation  into  all  bosoms;  and,  in  an  instant,  the 
settlement,  late  so  peaceful,  resounded  with  the 
hum  and  uproar  of  warlike  preparation.  Horses 
were  caught  and  saddled,  rifles  pulled  from  their 
perches,  knives  sharpened,  ammunition-pouches  and 
provender-bags  filled,  and  every  other  step  taken 
necessary  to   the  simple  equipment  of  a  border 


KICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  93 

army,  called  to  action  in  an  emergency  so  sudden 
and  urgent. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  intelligence  was  not  with- 
out its  effects  on  Roland  Forrester,  who,  seeing 
himself  so  unexpectedly  deprived  of  the  promised 
escort, — for  he  could  scarce  think,  under  such 
circumstances,  of  withdrawing  a  single  man  from 
the  force  called  to  a  duty  so  important, — per- 
ceived the  necessity  of  employing  his  own  re- 
sources to  effect  escape  from  a  position  which  he 
now  felt  to  be  embarrassing.  He  regretted,  for 
the  first  time,  his  separation  from  the  band  of  emi- 
grants, and  became  doubly  anxious  to  follow 
them:  for,  if  it  w^ere  true  that  so  large  a  force  of 
Indians  was  really  in  the  District,  there  w^as  every 
reason  to  suppose  they  would,  according  to  their 
known  system  of  w^arfare,  divide  into  small  parties, 
and  scatter  over  the  whole  country,  infesting 
every  road  and  path;  and  he  knew  not  how  soon 
some  of  them  might  be  found  following  on  the 
heels  of  the  messenger.  He  took  advantage  of 
the  first  symptom  of  returning  serenity  on  the 
part  of  his  host,  to  acquaint  him  with  his  reso- 
lution to  set  out  immediately,  the  rains  having 
ceased,  and  the  clouds  broken  up  and  almost 
vanished. 

"  Lord,  captain,"  said  the  Kentuckian,  "  I 
hoped  you  would  have  been  for  taking  a  brush 
with  us;  and  it  war  my  idea  to  send  a  messenger 
after  your  party,  in  hopes  your  men  w^ould  join 
us  in  the  rusty.  Whar  will  they  have  such  ano- 
ther chance  ?  A  thousand  Injuns  ready  cut  and 
dried  for  kiUing !  Lord,  what  a  fool  I  war  for 
not  setting  more  store  by  that  tale  of  Nathan 
Slaughter's!  I  never  knowed  the  brute  to  lie  in 
such  a  case;  for,  as  he  is  always  ramping  about 
the  woods,  he's  as  good  as  a  paid  scout.     How- 


94  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

somever,  the  crittur  did'nt  speak  on  Iiis  own 
knowledge;  and  that  infarnal  Stackpole  was  just 
ripe  from  the  North  side.  But,  I  say,  captain,  if 
your  men  w^ill  fight,  just  tote  'em  back,  stow  away 
the  women  behind  the  logs  here,  and  march  your 
guns  after  me ;  and,  if  thar's  half  the  number  of 
red  niggurs  they  speak  of,  to  be  found,  you  shall 
see  an  affa'r  of  a  skrimmage  that  will  be  good  for 
your  wholesome, — you  will,  by  the  etarnal !" 

"  If  the  men  are  of  that  mind,"  said  Roland, 
gallantly,  "1  am  not  the  one  to  balk  them.  I  will, 
at  least,  see  whither  their  inclinations  tend ;  and 
that  the  matter  may  the  sooner  be  decided,  I  will 
set  out  without  delay." 

"  And  we  who  war  to  escort  you,  captain," 
said  the  Kentuckian,  with  some  embarrassment : 
"you're  a  soldier,  captain,  and  you  see  the  case!" 

"  I  do  ;  I  have  no  desire  to  weaken  your  force  ; 
and,  I  trust,  no  protection  is  needed." 

"  Not  an  iota ;  the  road  is  as  safe  as  the  furrow 
of  a  Virginnee  corn-field, — at  least  till  you  strike 
the  lower  Forks ;  and  thar  I've  heard  of  no  ram- 
paging since  last  summer :  I'll  indamnify  you 
against  all  loss  and  mischief, — I  will,  if  it  war  on 
my  salvation !" 

"  If  you  could  but  spare  me  a  single  guide," 
said  Forrester. 

"  Whar's  the  use,  captain  ?  The  road  is  as 
broad  and  cl'ar  as  a  turnpike  in  the  Old  Domin- 
ion ;  it  leads  you,  chock  up,  right  on  the  Upper 
Ford,  whar  thar's  safe  passage  at  any  moment : 
but,  I  reckon,  the  rains  will  make  it  look  a  little 
wrathy  a  while,  and  so  fetch  your  people  to  a 
stand-still.  But  it's  a  pot  soon  full  and  soon 
empty,  and  it  will  be  low  enough  in  the  morning." 

"The  Upper  Ford?"  said  Roland,  his  dream, 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  95 

for  so  he  esteemed  it,  recurring  to  his  mind :  "  is 
there  then  a  Lower  Ford?" 

"  Ay,"  repUed  Bruce  ;  "  but  thar's  no  passing  it 
in  the  freshes ;  and  besides  the  place  has  a  bad 
name.  It  war  thar  old  John  Ashburn  pitched  his 
Station,  in  '78 ;  but  the  savages  made  murdering 
work  of  him,  taking  every  scalp  in  the  company; 
and  so  it  makes  one  sad-like  to  pass  thar,  and  the 
more  partickelarly  that  its'  all  natteral  fine  ground 
for  an  ambush.  You'll  see  the  road,  when  you're 
six  mile  deep  in  the  forest,  turning  oft' to  the  right, 
under  a  shivered  beech-tree.  You  are  then  four 
miles  from  the  river,  or  tharabouts,  and  just 
that  distance,  I  reckon,  from  your  company.  No, 
captain,"  he  repeated,  "  the  road  is  wide  and  open, 
and  a  guide  war  mere  lumber  on  your  hands." 

This  was  a  point,  however,  on  which  the  young 
soldier,  doubly  solicitous  on  his  kinswoman's  ac- 
count, to  avoid  mistake,  was  not  so  easily  satis- 
fied: seeing  which,  the  Kentuckian  yielded  to  his 
importunity, — perhaps  somewhat  ashamed  of  suf- 
fering his  guests  to  depart  entirely  alone, — and 
began  to  cast  about  him  for  some  suitable  person 
who  could  be  prevailed  upon  to  exchange  the  pri- 
vilege of  fighting  Indians  for  the  inglorious  duty 
of  conducting  wayfarers  through  the  forest.  This 
was  no  easy  task,  and  it  was  not  until  he  assumed 
his  mihtary  authority,  as  commander  of  all  the 
enrolled  militia-men  in  his  district,  empowered  to 
make  such  disposition  of  his  forces  as  he  thought 
fit,  that  he  succeeded  in  compelling  the  service  of 
one  of  his  reluctant  followers,  under  whose  guid- 
ance Roland  and  his  little  party  soon  after  set 
out.  Their  farewells  w^ere  briefly  said,  the  urgent 
nature  of  his  duties  leaving  the  hospitable  Bruce 
little  opportunity  for  superfluous  speech.  He  fol- 
lowed them,  however,  to  the  bottom  of  the  hill, 


96  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

grasped  Roland  by  the  hand;  and  doing  the  sanae 
thing  by  Edith,  as  if  his  conscience  smote  him  for 
dismissing  her  with  so  httle  ceremony  and  such 
insufficient  attendance,  he  swore  that  if  any  evil 
happened  to  her  on  the  road,  he  would  rest  neither 
night  nor  day  until  he  had  repaired  it,  or  lost  his 
scalp  in  the  effort. 

With  this  characteristic  and  somewhat  ominous 
farewell,  he  took  his  leave ;  and  the  cousins,  with 
their  guide  and  faithful  servant,  spurred  onwards 
at  a  brisk  pace,  until  the  open  fields  of  the  settle- 
ment were  exchanged  for  the  deep  and  gloomy 
w^ood  lands. 


SICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  97 


CHAPTER  VII. 


The  sun  shone  out  clearly  and  brilliantly,  and 
the  tree-tops,  from  which  the  winds  had  already 
shaken  the  rain,  rustled  freshly  to  the  more  mo- 
derate breezes  that  had  succeeded  them ;  and 
Roland,  animated  by  the  change,  by  the  brisk 
pace  at  which  he  was  riding,  and  by  the  hope  of 
soon  overtaking  his  fellow-exiles,  met  the  joyous 
looks  of  his  kinswoman  with  a  countenance  no 
longer  disturbed  by  care. 

And  yet  there  was  a  solemnity  in  the  scene 
around  them  that  might  have  called  for  other  and 
more  sombre  feehngs.  The  forest  into  which 
they  had  plunged,  was  of  the  grand  and  gloomy 
character,  which  the  fertility  of  the  soil,  and  the 
absence  of  the  axe  for  a  thousand  years,  imprint 
on  the  western  woodlands,  especially  in  the  vici- 
nity of  rivers.  Oaks,  elms,  and  walnuts,  tulip- 
trees  and  beeches,  with  other  monarchs  of  the 
wilderness,  lifted  their  trunks  like  so  many  pillars, 
green  with  mosses  and  ivies,  and  swung  their  ma- 
jestic arms,  tufted  with  mistletoe,  far  over  head, 
supporting  a  canopy, — a  series  of  domes  and  arches 
without  end, — that  had  for  ages  overshadowed  the 
soil.  Their  roots,  often  concealed  by  a  billowy 
undergrowth  of  shrubs  and  bushes,  oftener  by 
brakes  of  the  gigantic  and  evergreen  cane,  form- 
ing fences  as  singular  as  they  were,  for  the  most 
part,  impenetrable,  were  yet  at  times  visible, 
where  open  glades  stretched  through  the  woods, 

VOL.  r. — 9 


98  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

broken  only  by  buttressed  trunks,  and  by  the 
stems  of  colossal  vines,  hanging  from  the  boughs 
like  cables,  or  the  arms  of  an  Oriental  banyan  ; 
while  their  luxuriant  tops  rolled  in  union  with  the 
leafy  roofs  that  supported  them.  The  vague  and 
shadowy  prospects  opened  by  these  occasional 
glades,  stirred  the  imagination  and  produced  a 
feeling  of  solitude  in  the  mind,  greater  perhaps 
than  would  have  been  felt,  had  the  view  been  con- 
tinually bounded  by  a  green  wall  of  canes. 

The  road,  if  such  it  could  be  called,  through 
this  noble  forest  was,  like  that  the  emigrants  had 
so  long  pursued  through  the  wilderness,  a  mere 
path,  designated,  where  the  w^ood  was  open,  by 
blazes,  or  axe-marks  on  the  trees ;  and,  where  the 
undergrowth  was  dense,  a  narrow  track  cut 
through  the  canes  and  shrubs,  scarce  sufficient  in 
many  places  to  allow  the  passage  of  two  horse- 
men abreast;  though  when,  as  was  frequently  the 
case,  it  followed  the  ancient  routes  of  the  bisons 
10  fords  and  salt-licks,  it  presented,  as  Bruce  had 
described,  a  wide  and  commodious  highway,  prac- 
ticable even  to  wheeled  carriages. 

The  gait  of  the  little  party  over  this  road  was 
at  first  rapid  and  cheery  enough  ;  but  by  and  by, 
having  penetrated  deeper  into  the  wood,  where 
breezes  and  sunbeams  were  alike  unknown,  they 
found  their  progress  impeded  by  a  thousand  pools 
and  sloughs,  the  consequences  of  the  storm,  that 
stretched  from  brake  to  brake.  These  interrup- 
tions promised  to  make  the  evening  journey  longer 
than  Roland  had  anticipated;  but  he  caught,  at 
intervals,  the  fresh  foot-prints  of  his  comrades  in 
the  soil  where  it  was  not  exposed  to  the  rains,  and 
reflected  with  pleasure,  that,  travelling  even  at  the 
slowest  pace,  he  must  reach  the  ford  where  he 
expected  to  find  them  encamped,  long  before  dark. 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  09 

He  felt  therefore  no  uneasiness  at  the  delay;  nor 
did  he  think  any  of  those  obstacles  to  rapid  pro- 
gress a  cause  for  regret  that  gave  him  the  better 
opportunity  to  interchange  ideas  with  his  fair  kins- 
woman. 

His  only  concern  arose  from  the  conduct  of  his 
guide,  a  rough,  dark-visaged  man,  who  had  be- 
trayed, from  the  first  moment  of  starting,  a  sullen 
countenance,  indicative  of  his  disinclination  to 
the  duty  assigned  him;  which  feehng  evidently 
grew  stronger  the  further  he  advanced,  notwith- 
standing sundry  efforts  Forrester  made  to  bring 
him  into  a  better  humour.  He  displayed  no  de- 
sire to  enter  into  conversation  with  the  soldier, 
replying  to  such  questions  as  were  directed  at  him 
with  a  brevity  little  short  of  rudeness;  and  his 
smothered  exclamations  of  impatience,  when- 
ever his  delicate  followers  slackened  their  pace  at 
a  bog  or  gully,  which  he  had  himself  dashed 
through  with  a  manly  contempt  of  mud  and 
mire,  somewhat  stirred  the  choler  of  the  young 
captain. 

They  had  perhaps  followed  him  a  distance  of 
four  miles  into  the  forest,  when  the  occurrence 
of  a  wider  and  deeper  pool  than  ordinary  pro- 
ducing a  corresponding  delay  on  the  part  of  Ro- 
land, who  was  somewhat  averse  to  plunging  with 
Edith  up  to  the  saddle-girths  in  mire,  drew  from 
him  a  very  unmannerly,  though  not  the  less  hearty 
execration  on  the  delicacy  of  '  them  thar  persons 
who,'  as  he  expressed  it, '  stumped  at  a  mud-hole 
as  skearily  as  if  every  tadpole  in  it  war  a  screech- 
ing Injun.' 

Of  this  explosion  of  ill-temper  Roland  took  no 
notice,  until  he  had,  with  the  assistance  of  Em- 
peror, the  negro,  affected  a  safe  passage  for  Edith 
o  ver  the  puddle ;  in  the  course  of  which  he  had 


100  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

leisure  to  observe  that  the  path  now  struck  into  ^ 
wide  buffalo-street^  that  swept  away  through  a 
wilderness  of  wood  and  cane-brake,  in  nearly  a 
straight  line,  for  a  considerable  distance.  He  ob- 
served also,  that  the  road  looked  drier  and  less 
broken  than  usual ;  his  satisfaction  at  which  had 
the  good  effect  of  materially  abating  the  rage  into 
which  he  had  been  thrown  by  the  uncivil  bearing 
of  the  guide;  Nevertheless^  he  had  no  sooner 
brought  his^  kinswoman  safely  to  land,  than,  leav- 
ing her  in  the  charge  of  Emperor,  he  galloped  up 
to  the  side  of  his  conductor,  and  gave  vent  to  his 
indignation  in  the  following  i^ithy  query  : 

"My  friend/'  said  he,  "will  you  have  the  good- 
ness to  inform  me  whether  you  have  ever  lived  in 
a  land  where  courtesy  to  strangers,  and  kindness 
and  respect  to  women,  are  ranked  among  the 
virtues  of  manhood Z?'^ 

The  man  replied  only  by  a  nerce  and  angry 
stare;  and  plying  the  ribs  of  his  horse  with  his 
heels,  he  dashed  onwards.  But  Roland  kept  at 
his  side,  not  doubting  that  a  little  more  wholesome 
reproof  would  be  of  profit  to  the  man,  as  well  as 
advantageous  to  his  own  interests. 

"  I  ask  that  question,"  he  continued,  "because  a 
man  from  such  a  land,  seeing  strangers,  and  one 
of  them  a  female,  struggling  in  a  bog,  would,  in- 
stead of  standing  upon  dry  land,  making  disre- 
spectful remarks,  have  done  his  best  to  help  them 
through  it." 

"Strannger;"  said  the  man,  drawing  up  his 
horse,  and  looking,  notwithstanding  his  anger,  as 
if  he  felt  the  rebuke  to  be  in  a  measure  just,  "  I 
am  neither  hog  nor  dog,  Injun  nor  outlandish  nig- 
gur,  but  a  man, — a  man,  strannger!  outside  and 
inside,  in  flesh,  blood,  and  spirit,  jest  as  my  Maker 
made  me  :  though  thar  may  be  something  of  the 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  101 

scale-bark  and  parsimmon  about  me,  Pll  not  deny; 
for  I've  heer'd  on  it  before.  I  axes  the  lady's  par- 
don, if  I've  offended ;  and  thar's  the  eend  on't." 

"  The  end  of  it,"  said  Forrester,  "  v^^ill  be  much 
more  satisfactory,  if  you  give  no  further  occasion 
for  complaint.  But  nou^,"  he  continued,  Edith 
drawing  nigh,  *'  let  us  ride  on,  and  as  fast  as  you 
like ;  for  the  road  seems  both  open  and  good." 

"  Strannger,"  said  the  guide,  without  budging 
an  inch,  "you  have  axed  me  a  question;  and  ac- 
cording to  the  fa'r  rule  of  the  woods,  it's  my 
right  to  ax  you  another." 

"  Very  well,"  said  Roland,  assenting  to  the  jus- 
tice of  the  rule  :  "  ask  it,  and  be  brief" 

"  What  you  war  saying  of  the  road  is  true;  thar 
it  goes,  wide,  open,  cl'ar  and  straight,  with  as  good 
a  fence  on  both  sides  of  it  to  keep  in  stragglers, 
as  war  ever  made  of  ash,  oak,  or  chestnut  rails, — 
though  it's  nothing  but  a  natteral  bank  of  cane- 
brake  :  and  so  it  runs,  jest  as  cl'ar  and  wide,  all 
the  way  to  the  river." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,"  was  the  soldier's  re- 
ply:  "  but  now  for  your  question  ?" 

"  Hy'ar  it  is,"  said  the  man,  flinging  out  his  hand 
with  angry  energy :  "  I  wants  to  ax  of  you,  as  a 
sodger,  for  I've  heer'd  you're  of  the  reggelar  sar- 
vice,  whether  it's  a  wiser  and  more  christian 
affa'r,  when  thar's  Injuns  in  the  land  a  murdering 
of  your  neighbour's  wives  and  children,  and  all 
the  settlements  in  a  screech  and  a  cry,  to  send  an 
able-bodied  man  to  fight  them;  or  to  tote  him  off, 
a  day's  journey  thar  and  back  ag'in,  to  track  a 
road  that  a  blind  man  on  a  blind  horse  could 
travel,  without  axing  questions  of  any  body? 
Thar's  my  question,"  he  added,  somewhat  ve- 
hemently; "and    now   let's  have  a   sodger's  an- 


swer! 


I" 


9* 


102  NICK  OF  THE  WOOBS- 

"  My  good  friend,"  said  Roland,  a  little  offend- 
ed, and  yet  more  embarrassed,  by  the  interroga- 
tory, "  none  can  tell  better  than  yourself  how  much, 
or  how  little  occasion  I  may  have  for  a  guide. 
Your  question,  therefore,  I  leave  you  to  answer 
yourself.  If  you  think  your  duty  calls  you  to 
abandon  a  woman  in  the  wild  woods  to  such  guid- 
ance as  one  wholly  unacquainted  with  them  can 
give,  you  can  depart  as  soon  as  you  think  fit;  for 
I  cannot " 

The  guide  gave  him  no  time  to  finish  the  sen- 
tence. "  You're  right,  strannger,"  he  cried ; 
"thar  is  your  road,  as  plain  as  the  way  up  a 
hickory,  braving  to  a  camp  of  old  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances,— and  hy'ar  is  mine,  running  right  slap 
among  fighting  Injuns  !" 

And  w^ith  that  he  turned  his  horse's  head,  and 
flourishing  his  right  hand,  armed  with  the  ever- 
constant  rifle,  above  his  own,  and  uttering  a  whoop 
expressive  of  the  wild  pleasure  he  felt  at  being  re- 
leased from  his  ignoble  duty,  bedashed  across  the 
pool,  and  galloped  in  a  moment  out  of  sight,  leav- 
ing Roland  and  his  party  confounded  at  the  de- 
sertion. 

"  *  An  outlandish  niggur' !"  muttered  old  Em- 
peror, on  whom  this  expression  of  the  guide  had 
produced  no  very  favourable  effect;  "guess  the 
gemman  white-man  is  a  niggur  himself,  and  a 
rogue,  and  a  potater,  or  whatsomever  you  call 
'em !  Leab  a  lady  and  a  gemman  lost  in  the 
woods,  and  neither  take  'em  on  nor  take  'em  back  ! 
— lor-a-massy  I" 

To  this  half-soliloquized  expression  of  indigna- 
tion the  soldier  felt  inclined  to  add  a  few  bitter 
invectives  of  his  own ;  but  Edith  treating  the  mat- 
ter lightly,  and  affecting  to  be  better  pleased  at  the 
rude  man's  absence  than  she  had  been  with  his 


MCK  OF  THE  WOODS.  103 

company,  he  abated  his  own  wrath,  and  acknow- 
ledged that  the  desertion  afforded  the  best  proof 
of  the  safety  of  the  road  ;  since  he  could  not  be- 
lieve that  the  fellow,  with  all  his  roughness  and 
inhumanity,  would  have  been  so  base  as  to  leave 
them,  while  really  surrounded  by  difficulties.  He 
remembered  enough  of  Bruce's  description  of  the 
road,  which  he  had  taken  care  should  be  minute 
and  exact,  to  feel  persuaded  that  the  principal  ob- 
structions were  now  over,  and  that,  as  the  guide 
had  said,  there  was  no  possibility  of  wandering 
from  the  path.  They  had  already  travelled  nearly 
half  the  distance  to  the  river,  and  to  accomplish 
the  remainder,  they  had  yet  four  hours  of  day- 
light. He  saw  no  reason  why  they  should  not 
proceed  alone,  trusting  to  their  good  fate  for  a 
fortunate  issue  to  the  enterprise.  To  return  to  the 
fort  w^ould  be  onl}^  to  separate  themselves  further 
from  their  friends,  without  insuring  them  a  better 
guide,  or,  indeed,  any  guide  at  all,  since  it  was 
highly  probable  they  would  find  it  only  occupied 
by  women  and  children.  In  a  w^ord,  he  satisfied 
himself  that  nothing  remained  for  him  but  to  con- 
tinue his  journey,  and  trust  to  his  own  sagacity  to 
end  it  to  advantage. 

He  set  out  accordingly,  followed  by  Edith  and 
Emperor,  the  latter  bringing  up  the  rear  in  true 
military  style,  and  handling  his  rifle,  as  if  almost 
desirous  of  finding  an  opportunity  to  use  it  in  the 
service  of  his  young  mistress. 

In  this  manner,  they  travelled  onwards  with  but 
little  interruption  for  more  than  a  mile;  and  Ro- 
land was  beginning  anxiously  to  look  for  the  path 
that  led  to  the  Lower  Ford,  when  Emperor  galloped 
to  the  van  and  brought  the  party  to  a  halt  by  re- 
porting that  he  heard  the  sound  of  hoofs  following 
at  a  distance  behind. 


104  MCK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

"  Perhaps, — perhaps,"  said  Edith,  while  the 
gleam  of  her  eye,  shining  with  sudden  pleasure, 
indicated  how  little  real  satisfaction  she  had  felt 
at  the  desertion  of  their  conductor, — "perhaps  it 
is  the  sour  fellow,  the  guide,  coming  back,  asham- 
ed of  his  misconduct." 

"  We  will  soon  see,"  said  Roland,  turning  his 
horse  to  reconnoitre  ;  a  proceeding  that  was,  how- 
ever, rendered  unnecessary  by  the  hurried  speed 
of  the  comer,  who,  dashing  suddenly  round  a  bend 
in  the  road,  disclosed  to  his  wondering  eyes,  not 
the  tall  frame  and  sullen  aspect  of  the  guide,  but 
the  lighter  figure  and  fairer  visage  of  the  girl,  Te- 
lie  Doe.  She  w^as  evidently  arrayed  for  travel, 
having  donned  her  best  attire  of  blue  cloth,  with 
a  little  cap  of  the  same  colour  on  her  head,  under 
which  her  countenance,  beaming  with  exercise 
and  anxiety,  looked,  in  both  Roland's  and  Edith's 
eyes,  extremely  pretty;  much  more  so,  indeed, 
than  either  had  deemed  her  to  be;  while,  secured 
behind  the  cushion,  or  pillion,  on  which  she  rode, 
— for  not  a  jot  of  saddle  had  she, — was  a  little 
bundle  containing  such  worldly  comforts  as  were 
necessary  to  one  seriously  bent  upon  a  journey. 
She  was  mounted  upon  a  sprightly  pony,  which 
she  managed  with  more  address  and  courage  than 
would  have  been  augured  from  her  former  timor- 
ous demeanour;  and  it  was  plain  that  she  had  put 
him  to  his  mettle  through  the  woods,  with  but  lit- 
tle regard  to  the  sloughs  and  puddles  which  had 
so  greatly  embarrassed  the  fair  Edith.  Indeed,  it 
appeared,  that  the  exercise  which  had  infused 
animation  into  her  countenance  had  bestowed  a 
share  also  on  her  spirit;  for  having  checked  her 
horse  an  instant,  and  looked  a  little  abashed  at  the 
sudden  sight  of  the  strangers,  she  recovered  her- 
self in  a  moment,  and  riding  boldly  up,  she  pro- 


3 

1 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  105 

ceeded,  without  waiting  to  be  questioned,  to  explain 
the  cause  of  her  appearance.  She  had  met  the 
deserter,  she  said,  returning  to  the  Station,  and 
thinking  it  was  not  right  the  stranger  lady  should 
be  left  without  a  guide  in  the  woods,  she  had  rid- 
den after  her  to  offer  her  services. 

"  It  was  at  least  somewhat  surprising,"  Roland 
could  not  avoid  saying,  "  that  the  fellow  should 
have  found  you  already  equipt  in  the  woods'?" 

At  this  innuendo.  Telle  was  somewhat  embar- 
rassed, but  more  so,  when,  looking  towards  Edith, 
as  if  to  address  her  reply  to  her,  she  caught  the 
inquiring  look  of  the  latter,  made  still  more  ex- 
pressive by  the  recollection  which  Edith  retained 
of  the  earnest  entreaty  Telle  had  made  the  pre- 
ceding night,  to  be  taken  into  her  service. 

"I  will  not  tell  you  a  falsehood,  ma'am,"  she 
said  at  last,  with  a  firm  voice:  "  I  was  not  on  the 
road  by  chance :  I  came  to  follow  you.  I  knew, 
the  man  you  had  to  guide  you  was  unwilling  to 
go,  and  I  thought  he  w^ould  leave  you,  as  he  has 
done.  And,  besides,  the  road  is  not  so  clear  as  it 
seems ;  it  branches  off  to  so  many  of  the  salt- 
licks, and  the  tracks  are  so  w^ashed  away  by  the 
rains,  that  none  but  one  that  knows  it  can  be  sure 
of  keeping  it  long." 

"  And  how,"  inquired  Edith,  very  pointedly, — 
for,  in  her  heart,  she  suspected  the  little  damsel 
was  determined  to  enter  her  service,  whether  she 
would  or  not,  and  had  actually  run  away  from  her 
friends  for  the  purpose, — "  how,  after  you  have 
led  us  to  our  party,  do  you  expect  to  return  again 
to  your  friends?" 

"  If  you  will  let  me  go  with  you  as  far  as  Jack- 
son's Station," — (the  settlement  at  which  it  was 
originally  determined  the  emigrants  should  pass 
the  night,)  said  the  maiden,  humbly,  ''  I  will  find 


106  PfICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

friends  there  who  will  take  me  home;  and  per- 
haps our  own  people  will  come  for  me, — for  they 
are  often  visiting  about  among  the.  Stations." 

This  declaration,  made  in  a  tone  that  convinced 
Edith  the  girl  had  given  over  all  hopes  of  being 
received  kito  her  protection,  unless  she  could  re- 
move opposition  by  the  services  she  might  render 
on  the  way,  pointed  out  also  an  easy  mode  of  get- 
ting rid  of  her,  when  a  separation  should  be  ad-, 
visable,  and  thus  removed  the  only  objection  she 
felt  to  accept  her  proffered  guidance.  As  for  Ro- 
land, however,  he  expressed  much  natural  re- 
luctance to  drag  a  young  and  inexperienced  fe- 
male so  far  from  her  home,  leaving  her  after- 
wards to  return  as  she  might.  But  he  perceived 
that  her  presence  gave  courage  to  his  kinswoman ; 
he  felt  that  her  acquaintance  with  the  path  was 
more  to  be  relied  upon  than  his  own  sagacity;  and 
he  knew  not,  if  he  even  rejected  her  offered  ser- 
vices altogether,  how  he  could  with  any  grace 
communicate  the  refusal,  and  leave  her  abandon- 
ed to  her  own  discretion  in  the  forest.  He  felt  a 
little  inclined,  at  first,  to  wonder  at  the  interest 
she  seemed  to  have  taken  in  his  cousin's  welfare; 
but,  by  and  by,  he  reflected  that  perhaps,  after  all, 
her  motive  lay  in  no  better  or  deeper  feeling  than 
a  mere  girlish  desire  to  make  her  way  to  the 
neighbouring  Station,  (twenty  miles  make  but  a 
neighbourly  distance  in  the  wilderness,)  to  enjoy  a 
frolic  among  her  gadding  acquaintance.  This  re- 
flection ended  the  struggle  in  his  mind;  and  turn- 
ing to  her  with  a  smiling  countenance,  he  said, 
"If  you  are  so  sure  of  getting  home,  my  pretty 
maid,  you  may  be  as  certain  we  will  be  glad  of 
your  company  and  guidance.  But  let  us  delay  no 
longer." 

The  girl,  starting  at  these  words  with  alacrity, 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  107 

switched  her  pony  and  darted  to  the  head  of  the 
Httle  party,  as  if  addressing  herself  to  her  duty  in 
a  business-Uke  way;  and  there  she  maintained  her 
position  with  great  zeal,  although  Roland  and 
Edith  endeavoured,  for  kindness'  sake,  to  make 
her  sensible  they  desired  her  to  ride  with  them  as 
a  companion,  and  not  at  a  distance  like  a  pioneer. 
The  faster  they  spurred,  however,  the  more  zeal- 
ously she  plied  her  switch,  and  her  pony  being 
both  spirited  and  fresh,  while  their  own  horses 
were  both  not  a  little  the  worse  for  their  long 
journey,  she  managed  to  keep  in  front,  maintain- 
ing a  gait  that  promised  in  a  short  time  to  bring 
them  to  the  banks  of  the  river. 

They  had  ridden  perhaps  a  mile  in  this  man- 
ner, when  a  sudden  opening  in  the  cane-brake  on 
the  right  hand,  at  a  place  where  stood  a  beech- 
tree,  riven  by  a  thunderbolt  in  former  years,  but 
still  spreading  its  shattered  ruins  in  the  air,  con- 
vinced Roland  that  he  had  at  last  reached  the 
road  to  the  Lower  Ford,  which  Bruce  had  so  strict- 
ly cautioned  him  to  avoid.  What,  therefore,  was 
his  surprise,  when  Telie,  having  reached  the  tree, 
turned  at  once  into  the  by-road,  leaving  the  direct 
path  which  they  had  so  long  pursued,  and  which 
still  swept  away  before  them,  as  spacious  and  un- 
interrupted, save  by  occasional  pools,  as  ever. 

"  You  are  wrong,"  he  cried,  checking  his  steed. 

"  This  is  the  road,  sir,"  said  the  girl,  though  in 
some  trepidation. 

"By  no  means,"  said  Forrester:  "that  path 
leads  to  the  Lower  Ford:  here  is  the  shivered 
beech,  which  the  Colonel  described  to  me." 

"Yes,  sir,"  said  Telie,  hurriedly;  "it  is  the 
mark:  they  call  it  the  Crooked  Finger-post." 

"And  a  crooked  road  it  is  like  to  lead  us,  if  we 
follow  it,"  said  Roland.     "  It  leads  to  the  Lower 


108  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

Ford,  and  is  not  therefore  our  road.  I  remember 
the  Colonel's  direction." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  Telle,  anxiously, — '<  to  take  the 
beech  on  the  right  shoulder,  and  then  down,  four 
miles,  to  the  water." 

"  Precisely  so,"  said  the  soldier ;  "  with  only 
this  dillerence,  (for,  go  which  way  we  will,  the 
tree  being  on  the  right  side  of  each  path,  we  must 
still  keep  it  on  the  right  shoulder,)  that  the  road  to 
the  Upper  Ford,  which  I  am  now  travelling,  is  the 
one  for  our  purposes.     Of  this  I  am  confident." 

"  And  yet,  Roland,"  said  Edith,  somewhat 
alarmed  at  this  difference  of  opinion,  where  una- 
nimity was  so  much  more  desirable,  "the  young 
woman  should  know  best." 

"  Yes !"  cried  Telle,  eagerly :  "  I  have  lived 
here  almost  seven  years,  and  been  across  the 
river  more,  than  as  many  times.  This  is  the 
shortest  and  safest  way." 

"  It  may  be  both  the  shortest  and  safest,"  said 
Forrester,  whose  respect  for  the  girl's  knowledge 
of  the  woods  and  ability  to  guide  him  through 
them,  began  to  be  vastly  diminished;  "but  this  is 
the  road  Mr.  Bruce  described.  Of  this  I  am  posi- 
tive ;  and  to  make  the  matter  still  more  certain,  if 
need  be,  here  are  horse-tracks,  fresh,  numerous, 
scarcely  washed  by  the  rain,  and  undoubtedly 
made  by  our  old  companions ;  whereas  tliat  path 
seems  not  to  have  been  trodden  for  a  twelve- 
month." 

"  I  will  guide  you  right,"  faltered  Telle,  with 
anxious  voice. 

"  My  good  girl,"  said  the  soldier,  kindly,  but 
positively,  "  you  must  allow  me  to  doubt  your 
ability  to  do  that, — at  least,  on  that  path.  Here  is 
our  road  ;  and  we  must  follow  it." 


NICK  OF  Tire  WOODS.  109 

He  resumed  it,  as  he  spoke,  and  Edith,  conquer- 
«ed  by  his  arguments  which  seemed  decisive,  fol- 
lowed him;  but  looking  back,  after  having  pro- 
ceeded a  few  steps,  she  saw  the  baffled  guide  still 
lingering  on  the  rejected  path,  and  wringing  her 
hands  with  grief  and  disappointment. 

"You  will  not  remain  behind  us?"  said  Edith, 
riding  back  to  her:  "  You  see,  my  cousin  is  posi- 
tive :  you  must  surely  be  mistaken  ?" 

"  I  am  not  mistaken,"  said  the  girl,  earnestly ; 
"  and,  oh,  he  will  repent  that  ever  he  took  his  own 
way  through  this  forest." 

•'  How  can  that  be  ?  What  cause  have  you  to 
say  so  ?" 

'^  I  do  not  know,"  murmured  the  damsel,  in 
woful  perplexity  ;  "but, — but,  sometimes,  that  road 
is  dangerous." 

"  Sometimes  all  roads  are  so,"  said  Edith,  her 
patience  failing,  when  she  found  Telle  could  give 
no  better  reason  for  her  opposition.  "  Let  us  con- 
tinue: my  kinsman  is  w^aiting  us,  and  we  must  lose 
no  more  time  by  delay." 

With  these  words,  she  again  trotted  forward, 
and  Telle,  after  hesitating  a  moment,  thought  fit 
to  follow. 

But  now  the  animation  that  had,  a  few  moments 
before,  beamed  forth  in  every  look  and  gesture  of 
the  maiden,  gave  place  to  dejection  of  spirits,  and 
even,  as  Edith  thought,  to  alarm.  She  seemed  as 
anxious  now  to  linger  in  the  rear  as  she  had  been 
before  to  preserve  a  bold  position  in  front.  Her 
eyes  wandered  timorously  from  brake  to  tree,  as 
if  in  fear  lest  each  should  conceal  a  lurking 
enemy ;  and  often,  as  Edith  looked  back,  she  was 
struck  with  the  singularly  mournful  and  distressed 
expression  of  her  co-jntcnance. 

VOL.  I. 10 


110  NJCK  OF  THE  WOODS. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


These  symptoms  of  anxiety  and  alarm  affected 
Edith's  own  spirits;  they  did  more,  they  shook 
her  faith  in  the  justice  of  her  kinsman's  conclu- 
sions. His  arguments  in  relation  to  the  road  were, 
indeed,  unanswerable,  and  Telle  had  offered  none 
to  weaken  them.  Yet  why  should  she  betray 
such  distress,  if  they  were  upon  the  right  one  ? 
and  why,  in  fact,  should  she  not  be  supposed  to 
know  both  the  right  and  the  wrong,  since  she  had, 
as  she  said,  so  frepuently  travelled  both  1 

These  questions  Edith  could  not  refrain  asking 
of  Roland,  who  professed  himself  unable  to  an- 
swer them,  unless  by  supposing  the  girl  had  be- 
come confused,  as  he  thought  was  not  improbable, 
or  had,  in  reality,  been  so  long  absent  from  the 
forest  as  to  have  forgotten  its  paths  altogether : 
which  was  hkely  enough,  as  she  seemed  a  very 
simple-minded,  inexperienced  creature.  "  But  why 
need  we,"  he  said,  "  trouble  ourselves  to  find  rea- 
sons for  the  poor  girl's  opposition  ?  Here  are  the 
tracks  of  our  friends,  broader  and  deeper  than 
ever :  here  they  wind  down  into  the  hollow  ;  and 
there,  you  may  see  where  they  have  floundered 
through  that  vile  pool,  that  is  still  turbid,  where 
they  crossed  it.  A  horrible  quagmire  !  But  cou- 
rage, my  fair  cousin :  it  is  only  such  difficulties  as 
these  which  the  road  can  lead  us  into." 

Such  were  the  expressions  with  which  the  young 
soldier  endeavoured  to  reassure  his  kinswoman's 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  Ill 

courage,  his  own  confidence  remaining  still  un- 
moved;  although  in  secret  he  felt  somewhat  sur- 
prised at  the  coincidence  between  the  girl's  re- 
commendations of  the  by-road  and  the  injunctions 
of  his  morning  dream.  But  while  pondering  over 
the  wonder,  he  had  arriv^ed  at  the  quagmire  al- 
luded to,  through  which  the  difficulties  of  con- 
ducting his  cousin  were  sufficiently  great  to  banish 
other  matters  for  a  moment  from  his  mind.  Hav- 
ing crossed  it  at  last  in  safety,  he  paused  to  give 
such  instructions  or  assistance  as  might  be  needed 
by  his  two  followers;  when  Edith,  who  had  halted 
at  his  side,  suddenly  laid  her  hand  on  his  arm,  and 
exclaimed,  with  a  visage  of  terror, — "  Hark,  Ro- 
land !  do  you  hear  ?    What  is  that  ?" 

"  Heard  him,  massa  !"  ejaculated  Emperor  from 
the  middle  of  the  bog,  with  voice  still  more  quav- 
ering than  the  maiden's,  and  lips  rapidly  changing 
from  Spanish-brown  to  clayey-yellow;  "heard 
him,  massa!  Reckon  it's  an  Injun  !  lorra-massy!" 

"  Peace,  fool,"  cried  Forrester,  bending  his 
looks  from  the  alarmed  countenance  of  his  kins- 
woman to  the  quarter  whence  had  proceeded  the 
sound  which  had  so  suddenly  struck  terror  into 
her  bosom. 

"  Hark,  Roland  !  it  rises  again!"  she  exclaimed ; 
and  Roland  now  distinctly  heard  a  sound  in  the 
depth  of  the  forest  to  the  right  hand,  as  of  the 
yell  of  a  human  being,  but  at  a  great  distance  off. 
At  the  place  which  they  had  reached,  the  canes 
and  undergrowth  of  other  kinds  had  disappeared, 
and  a  wide  glade,  stretching  over  hill  and  hollow, 
sw^ept  away  from  both  sides  of  the  road  further 
than  the  eye  could  see.  The  trees,  standing  wider 
apart  than  usual,  were,  if  possible,  of  a  more  ma- 
jestic stature  ;  their  wide  and  massive  tops  were 
so  thickly  interlaced,  that  not  a  single  sunbeam 


112  MOK  OF  THE  WOODS, 

found  its  way  among  the  gloomy  arcades  below. 
A  wilder,  more  solitary,  and  more  awe-inspiring, 
spot  Roland  had  not  before  seen  ;  and  it  was  pe- 
culiarly fitted  10  add  double  eflect  to  sights  and' 
sounds  of  a  melancholy  or  fearful  character.  Ac- 
cordingly, when  the  cry  was  repeated,  as  it  soon 
ivas,  thcmgh  at  the  same  distance  as  before,  it 
came  echoing  among  the  hollow  arches  of  the 
woods  with  a  wild  and  almost  unearthly  cadence,, 
the  utterance,  as  it  seemed,  of  mortal  agony  and 
despair,  that  breathed  a  secret  horror  through  the 
breasts  of  all. 

"  It  is  the  Jibbenainosay  !''  muttered  the  shiver- 
ing Telier  "  these  are  the  w^oods  he  used  to  range 
in  most ;  and  they  say  he  screams  after  his  prey  L 
It  is  not  too  late  : — let  us  go  back  !" 

"  An  Injun,  massa  !"  said  Emperor,  stuttering, 
with  fright,  and  yet  proceeding  both  to  handle  his- 
arms  and  to  give  encouragement  to  his  young 
mistress,  which  his  age  and  privileged  character., 
as  well  as  the  urgency  of  the  occasion,  entitled 
him  to  do:  "don't  be  afraid,,  missie  Edie ;  nebber 
mind; — ole  Emperor  will  fight  and  die  for  missie> 
old  massa  John's  daughter !" 

"  Hist !"  said  Roland,  as  another  scream  rose  on 
the  air,  louder  and  more  thrilling  than  before. 

"  It  is  the  cry  of  a  human  being  !"  said  Edith, — 
"  of  a  man  in  distress  !" 

"It  is^  indeed,."  replied  the  soldier, — "  of  a  man 
in  great  perils  or  suilering..  Remain  here  on  the 
road  ;  and  if  any  thing — Nay,  if  you  will  follow 
me,  it  may  be  better;  but  let  it  be  at  a  distance.. 
If  any  thing  happens  to  me,  set  spurs  to  your 
horses: — Telle  here  can  at  least  lead  you  back  to 
the  fort." 

With  these  words,  and  without  waiting  to  hear 
the  rcm^onstrances,  or  remove  the  terrors  of  his 


XICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  113 

companions,  the  young  man  turned  his  horse  into 
the  wood,  and  guided  by  the  cries,  which  were 
almost  incessant,  soon  found  himself  in  the  vici- 
nity of  the  place  from  which  they  proceeded.  It 
was  a  thick  grove  of  beeches  of  the  colossal 
growth  of  the  west,  their  stems  as  tall  and  straight 
as  the  pines  of  the  Alleghanies,  and  their  boughs, 
arched  and  pendulous  like  those  of  the  elm,  al- 
most sweeping  the  earth  below,  over  which  they 
cast  shadows  so  dark  that  scarce  any  thing  was 
visible  beneath  them,  save  their  hoary  and  spec- 
tral trunks. 

As  Roland,  followed  by  his  little  party,  ap- 
proached this  spot,  the  cries  of  the  unknown,  and 
as  yet  unseen,  sufferer,  fearful  even  at  a  distance, 
grew  into  the  wildest  shrieks  of  fear,  mingled  with 
groans,  howls,  broken  prayers  and  execrations, 
and  half  inarticulate  expressions,  now  of  fondling 
entreaty,  now  of  fierce  and  frantic  command,  that 
seemed  addressed  to  a  second  person  hard  by. 

A  thousand  strange  and  appalling  conceits  had 
crept  into  Roland's  mind,  when  he  first  heard  the 
cries.  One  w^iile  he  almost  fancied  he  had  stum- 
bled upon  a  gang  of  savages,  w^ho  were  torturing 
a  prisoner  to  death  ;  another  moment,  he  thought 
the  yells  must  proceed  from  some  unlucky  hunter, 
perishing  by  inches  in  the  grasp  of  a  wild  beast, 
perhaps  a  bear  or  panther,  with  which  animals  it 
was  easy  to  believe  the  forest  might  abound. 
With  such  horrible  fancies  oppressing  his  mind, 
his  surprise  may  be  imagined,  when,  having 
cocked  his  rifle  and  thrown  open  his  holsters,  to 
be  prepared  for  the  worst,  he  rushed  into  the  grove 
and  beheld  a  spectacle  no  more  formidable  than 
was  presented  by  a  single  individual, — a  man  in  a 
shaggy  blanket-coat, — sitting  on  horseback  under 
one  of  the  most  venerable  of  the  beeches,  and  ut- 
10* 


114  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

tering  those  diabolical  outcries  that  had  alarmed 
the  party,  for  no  imaginable  purpose,  as  Roland 
was  at  first  inclined  to  suspect,  unless  for  his  own 
private  diversion. 

A  second  look,  however,  convinced  the  soldier 
that  the  wretched  being  had  sufficient  cause  for 
his  clamour,  being,  in  truth,  in  a  situation  almost 
as  dreadful  as  any  Roland  had  imagined.  His 
arms  were  pinioned  behind  his  back,  and  his  neck 
secured  in  a  halter,  (taken,  as  it  appeared,  from  his 
steed,)  by  which  he  was  fastened  to  a  large  bough 
immediately  above  his  head,  with  nothing  betwixt 
him  and  death,  save  the  horse  on  which  he  sat, — 
a  young  and  terrified  beast,  at  whose  slightest 
start  or  motion,  he  must  have  swung  oft'  and  pe- 
rished, w^hile  he  possessed  no  means  of  restrain- 
ing the  animal  whatever,  except  such  as  lay  in 
strength  of  leg  and  virtue  of  voice. 

In  this  terrible  situation,  it  was  plain,  he  had 
remained  for  a  considerable  period,  his  clothes 
and  hair  (for  his  hat  had  fallen  to  the  ground) 
being  saturated  with  rain;  while  his  face  purple 
with  blood,  his  eyes  swollen  and  protruding  from 
their  orbits  with  a  most  ghastly  look  of  agony  and 
fear,  showed  how  often  the  uneasiness  of  his  horse, 
round  whose  body  his  legs  were  wrapped  with  the 
convulsive  energy  of  despair,  had  brought  him  to 
the  very  verge  of  strangulation. 

The  yells  of  mortal  terror,  for  sucli  they  had 
been,  with  which  he  had  so  long  filled  the  forest, 
were  changed  to  shrieks  of  rapture,  as  soon  as  he 
beheld-help  approach  in  the  person  of  the  aston- 
ished soldier.  "Praised  be  the  Etarnal!"  he 
roared ;  "  cut  me  loose,  strannger! — Praised  be  the 
Etarnal,  and  this  here  dumb  beast ! — Cut  me  loose, 
strannger,  for  the  love  of  God !" 

Such  was  Roland's  intention;  for  which  purpose 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  115 

he  had  already  clapped  his  hand  to  his  sabre,  to 
employ  it  in  a  service  more  humane  than  any  it 
had  previously  known ;  when,  unfortunately,  the 
voice  of  the  fellow  did  what  his  distorted  counte- 
nance had  failed  to  do,  and  revealed  to  Roland's 
indignant  eyes  the  author  of  all  his  present  diffi- 
culties, the  thief  of  the  pinfold,  the  robber  of 
Brown  Briareus, — in  a  word,  the  redoubtable 
Captain  Ralph  Stackpole. 

In  a  moment,  Roland  understood  the  mystery 
which  he  had  been  before  too  excited  to  inquire 
into.  He  remembered  the  hints  of  Bruce,  and  he 
had  learned  enough  of  border  customs  and  princi- 
ples to  perceive  that  the  justice  of  the  woods  had 
at  last  overtaken  the  horse-thief.  The  pursuing 
party  had  captured  him, — taken  him  in  the  very 
manner,  while  still  in  possession  of  the  '  two-year- 
old  pony,'  and  at  once  adjuged  him  to  the  penalty 
prescribed  by  the  border  code, — tied  his  arms, 
noosed  him  with  the  halter  of  the  stolen  horse, 
and  left  him  to  swing,  as  soon  as  the  animal  should 
be  tired  of  supporting  him.  There  was  a  kind  of 
dreadful  poetical-justice  in  thus  making  the  stolen 
horse  the  thief's  executioner :  it  gave  the  animal 
himself  an  opportunity  to  wreak  vengeance  for  all 
wrongs  received,  and  at  the  same  time  allowed  his 
captor  the  rare  privilege  of  galloping  on  his  back 
into  eternity. 

Such  was  the  mode  of  settling  such  offences 
against  the  peace  and  dignity  of  the  settlements ; 
such  was  the  way  in  which  Stackpole  had  been 
reduced  to  his  unenviable  situation;  and,  that  all 
passers-by  might  take  note  that  the  execution  had 
not  been  done  without  authority,  there  was  paint- 
ed upon  the  smooth  white  bark  of  the  tree,  in 
large  black  letters,  traced  by  a  finger  well  charged 
with  moistened  gun-powder,  the  ominous  name — 


116  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

Judge  Lynch, — the  Rhadamanthus  of  the  forest, 
whose  decisions  are  yet  respected  in  the  land,  and 
whose  authority  sometimes  bids  fair  to  supersede 
that  of  all  erring  human  tribunals. 

Thus  tied  up,  his  rifle,  knife,  and  ammunition 
laid  under  a  tree  hard  by,  that  he  might  have  the 
satisfaction,  if  satisfaction  it  could  be,  of  knowing 
they  were  in  safety,  the  executioners  had  left  him 
to  his  fate,  and  ridden  away  long  since,  to  attend 
to  other  important  affairs  of  the  colony. 

The  moment  that  Roland  understood  in  whose 
service  he  was  drawing  his  sword,  a  change  came 
over  the  spirit  of  his  thoughts  and  feelings,  and  he 
returned  it  very  composedly  to  its  sheath, — much 
to  the  satisfaction  of  the  negro.  Emperor,  who, 
recognising  the  unfortunate  Ralph  at  the  same  in- 
stant, cried  aloud,  "  'Top,  massa !  't  ar  Captain 
Stackpole,  what  stole  Brown  Briery  !  Reckon  I'll 
touch  the  pony  on  the  rib,  hah  1  Hanging  too 
good  for  him,  white  niggah  t'ief,  hah !" 

With  that,  the  incensed  negro  made  as  if  he 
would  have  driven  the  pony  from  under  the  luck- 
less Ralph  ;  but  was  prevented  by  his  master,  who, 
taking  a  second  survey  of  the  spectacle,  motioned 
to  the  horror-struck  females  to  retire,  and  pre- 
pared himself  to  follow  them. 

"  'Tarnal  death  to  you,  captain !  you  w^on't 
leave  me  ?"  cried  Ralph,  in  terror.  "  Honour 
bright !  Help  him  that  needs  help — that's  the  rule 
for  a  Christian !" 

"  Villain  !"  said  Roland,  sternly,  "  I  have  no 
help  to  give  you.  You  are  strung  up  according 
to  the  laws  of  the  settlements,  with  which  I  have 
no  desire  to  interfere.  I  am  the  last  man  you 
should  ask  for  pity." 

"  I  don't  ax  your  pity,  'tarnal  death  to  me, — I 
ax  your  help  !"*  roared  Ralph :  "  Cut  me  loose  is 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  117 

the  word,  and  then  sw'ar  at  me  atter !  I  stole  your 
hoss  thar : — well,  whar's  the  harm  1  Didn't  he 
fling  me,  and  kick  me,  and  bite  me  into  the  bar- 
gain, the  cursed  savage?  and  ar'n't  you  got  him 
ag'in  as  good  as  ever  ?  And  besides,  didn't  that 
etarnal  old  Bruce  fob  me  off  with  a  beast  good 
for  nothing,  and  talk  big  to  me  besides  ?  and  warn't 
that  all  fa'r  provocation?  And  didn't  you  yourself 
sw'ar  ag'in  shaking  paws  with  me,  and  treat  me 
as  if  I  war  no  gentleman  ?  'Tarnal  death  to  me, 
cut  me  loose,  or  I'll  haunt  you,  when  I'm  a  ghost, 
I  will,  'tarnal  death  to  me  1" 

"  Cut  him  down,  Roland,  for  Heaven's  sake !" 
said  Edith,  whom  the  surprise  and  terror  of  the 
spectacle  at  first  rendered  speechless :  "  you  sure- 
ly,— no,  Roland,  you  surely  can't  mean  to  leave 
him  to  perish?" 

"  Upon  my  soul,"  said  the  soldier,  and  we  are 
sorry  to  record  a  speech  representing  him  in  a 
light  so  unamiable,  "  I  don't  see  what  right  I  have 
to  release  him ;  and  I  really  have  not  the  least  in- 
clination to  do  so.  The  rascal  is  the  cause  of  all 
our  difficulties;  and,  if  evil  should  happen  us,  he 
w^ill  be  the  cause  of  that  too.  But  for  him,  we 
should  be  now  safe  with  our  party.  And  besides, 
as  I  said  before,  he  is  hanged  according  to  Ken- 
tucky law; — a  very  good  law,  as  far  as  it  regards 
horse-thieves,  for  whom  hanging  is  too  light  a 
punishment." 

"  Nevertheless,  release  him, — save  the  poor 
wretch's  life,"  reiterated  Edith,  to  whom  Stackpole, 
perceiving  in  her  his  only  friend,  now  addressed 
the  most  piteous  cries  and  supplications :  "  the  law 
is  murderous,  its  makers  and  executioners  barba- 
rians. Save  him,  Roland  I  charge  you,  I  entreat 
you!" 

<*  He  owes  his  life  to  your  intercession,"  said 


118  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS, 

the  soldier;  and  drawing  his  sabre  again,  but  with 
no  apparent  good  will,  he  divided  the  halter  by 
which  Ralph  was  suspended,  and  the  wretch  was 
free. 

"  Cut  the  tug,  the  buffalo-tug!"  shouted  the  cul- 
prit, thrusting  his  arnas  as  far  from  his  back  as  he 
could,  and  displaying  the  thong  of  bison-skin,  which 
his  struggles  had  almost  buried  in  his  flesh.  A  sin- 
gle touch  of  the  steel,  rewarded  by  such  a  yell  of 
transport  as  was  never  before  heard  in  those 
savage  retreats,  sufficed  to  sever  the  bond ;  and 
Stackpole,  leaping  on  the  earth,  began  to  testify 
his  joy  in  modes  as  novel  as  they  w-ere  frantic. 
His  first  act  was  lo  fling  his  arms  round  the  neck 
of  his  steed,  which  he  hugged  and  kissed  with  the 
most  rapturous  affection,  doubtless  in  requital  of 
the  docility  it  had  shown  when  docility  w^as  so 
necessary  to  its  rider's  life;  his  second,  to  leap 
half  a  dozen  times  into  the  air,  feeling  his  neck  all 
the  time,  and  uttering  the  most  singular  and  voci- 
ferous cries,  as  if  to  make  double  trial  of  the  con- 
dition of  his  windpipe;  his  third,  to  bawl  aloud, 
directing  the  important  question  to  the  soldier, 
*'  How  many  days  has  it  been  since  they  hanged 
me?  War  it  to-day,  or  yesterday,  or  the  day  be- 
fore? or  war  it  a  whole  year  ago?  for  may  I  be 
next  hung  to  the  horn  of  a  buffalo,  instead  of  the 
limb  of  a  beech-tree,  if  I  did  n't  feel  as  if  I  had 
been  squeaking  thar  ever  since  the  beginning  of 
creation!  Cock-a-doodle-doo!  him  that  ar'nt  born 
to  be  hanged,  won't  be  hanged,  no-how!"  Then 
running  to  Edith,  who  sat  watching  his  proceed- 
ings with  silent  amazement,  he  flung  himself  on  his 
knees,  seized  the  hem  of  her  riding-habit,  which 
he  kissed  with  the  fervour  of  an  adorei',  exclaim- 
ing with  a  vehement  sincerity,  that  made  the 
whole  action  still  more  strangely  ludicrous,  "  Oh ! 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  119 

you  splendiferous  creatur'  !  you  anngeliferous 
anngel!  here  am  I,  Ralph  Stackpole  the  Scream- 
er, that  can  whip  all  Kentucky,  white,  black, 
mixed,  and  Injun;  and  I'm  the  man  to  go  with 
you  to  the  ends  of  the  'arth,  to  fight,  die,  ^ork, 
beg,  and  steal  bosses  for  you!  I  am,  and  you  may 
make  a  little  dog  of  me ;  you  may,  or  a  niggur,  or 
a  hoss,  or  a  door-post,  or  a  back-log,  or  a  dinner, 
— 'tarnal  death  to  me,  but  you  may  eat  me!  Fm 
the  man  to  feel  a  favour,  partickelarly  when  it 
comes  to  helping  me  out  of  a  halter ;  and  so  jist 
say  the  word  who  I  shall  lick,  to  begin  on;  for 
I'm  your  slave  jist  as  much  as  that  niggur,  to  go 
with  you,  as  I  said  afore,  to  the  ends  of  the  'arth, 
and  the  length  of  Kentucky  over!" 

"  Away  with  you,  you  scoundrel  and  jacka- 
napes," said  Roland,  for  to  this  ardent  expression 
of  gratitude  Edith  was  herself  too  much  fright- 
ened to  reply. 

"Strannger!"  cried  the  oflended  horse-thief, 
"  you  cut  the  tug,  and  you  cut  the  halter;  and  so, 
though  you  did  it  only  on  hard  axing,  I'd  take  as 
many  hard  words  of  you  as  you  can  pick  out  of  a 
dictionary, — I  will, 'tarnal  death  to  me.  But  as  for 
madam  thar,  the  anngel,  she  saved  my  life,  and  I 
go  my  death  in  her  sarvice:  and  now's  the  time 
to  show  sarvice,  for  tliar's  danger  abroad  in  the 
forest." 

"Danger!"  echoed  Roland,  his  anxiety  banish- 
ing the  disgust  with  which  he  was  so  much  in- 
clined to  regard  the  worthy  horse-thief;  "  whnt 
makes  you  say  that?" 

"  Strannger,"  replied  Ralph,  with  a  lengthened 
visage  and  a  gravity  somewhat  surprising  for  him, 
"  I  seed  the  Jibbenainosay !  'tarnal  death  to  me, 
but  I  seed  him  as  plain  as  ever  I  seed  old  Salt !  I 
war  a-hanging  thar,  and  squeaking  and  cussing, 


120  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

and  talking  soft  nonsense  to  the  pony,  to  keep  hini 
out  of  his  tantrums,  when  what  should  I  sec  but  a 
great  crittur'  come  tramping  through  the  forest, 
right  ofl'  yander  by  the  fallen  oak,  with  a  big  b'ar 
before  him " 

*'  Pish  !"  said  the  soldier,  "  what  has  ihis  to  do 
with  danger?" 

"  Beca'se  and  because,"  said  Ralph,  "  when  you 
see  the  Jibbenainosay,  thar's  always  abbregynes* 
in  the  cover.  I  never  seed  the  crittur'  before,  but 
I  reckon  it  war  he,  for  thar's  nothing  like  him  in 
natur'.  And  so  I'm  for  cutting  out  of  the  forest 
jist  on  the  track  of  a  streak  of  lightning, — now 
h'yar,  now  thar,  but  on  a  full  run  without  stop- 
ping. And  so,  if  anngeliferous  madam  is  willing, 
thump  me  round  the  'arth  with  a  crab-apple,  if  I 
don't  holp  her  out  of  the  bushes,  and  do  all  her 
fighting  into  the  bargain, — I  will,  'tarnal  death  to 
me !" 

"  You  may  go  about  your  business,"  said  Ro- 
land, with  as  much  sternness  as  contempt.  "  We 
will  have  none  of  your  base  company." 

"  Whoop  !  whoo,  whoo,  whoo  !  don't  riflef  me, 
for  I'm  danngerous !"  yelled  the  demibarbarian, 
springing  on  his  stolen  horse,  and  riding  up  to 
Edith  :  *'  Say  the  word,  marm,"  he  cried  ;  "for  I'll 
fight  for  you,  or  run  for  you,  take  scalp  or  cut 
stick,  shake  fist  or  show  leg,  any  thing  in  reason 
or  out  of  reason.  Strannger  thar's  as  brashj  as 
a  new  hound  in  a  b'ar  fight,  or  a  young  boss  in  a 
corn-field,  and  no  safe  friend  in  a  forest.  Say  the 
word,  marm, — or  if  you  think  it  ar'nt  manners  to 
speak  to  a  strannger,  jist  shake  your  little  finger, 
and  ril  follow  like  a  dog,  and  do  you  dog's  sar- 

*  Ahhregynes — aborigines.  -j-  To  rifle, — to  ruffle. 

i  Brash, — rash,  headstrong-,  over-vahant. 


I 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  121 

vice.  Or  if  you  don't  like  me,  say  the  word,  or 
shake  t'other  finger,  and  'tarnal  death  to  me,  but 
I'll  be  off  like  an  elk  of  the  prairies !" 

"  You  may  go,"  said  Edith,  not  at  all  solicitous 
to  retain  a  follower  of  Mr.  Stackpole's  cha- 
racter and  conversation :  "  we  have  no  occasion 
for  your  assistance." 

"  Fawwell !"  said  Ralph ;  and  turning,  and  giv- 
ing his  pony  a  thump  with  his  fist  and  a  kick  with 
each  heel,  and  uttering  a  shrill  whoop,  he  darted 
away  through  the  forest,  and  was  soon  out  of 
sight. 


VOL.  I. — 11 


122  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


The  course  of  Stackpole  was  through  the 
woods,  in  a  direction  immediately  opposite  to  that 
by  which  Roland  had  ridden  to  his  assistance. 

"  He  is  going  to  the  Lower  Ford,"  said  Telie, 
anxiously.  "  It  is  not  too  late  for  us  to  follow 
him.  If  there  are  Indians  in  the  wood,  it  is  the 
only  way  to  escape  them !" 

"  And  why  should  we  believe  there  are  Indians 
in  the  wood?'  demanded  Roland;  "because  that 
half-mad  rogue,  made  still  madder  by  his  terrors, 
saw  something  which  his  fancy  converted  into  the 
imaginary  Nick  of  the  Woods'?  You  must  give 
me  a  better  reason  than  that,  my  good  Telie,  if 
you  would  have  me  desert  the  road. — I  have  no 
faith  in  your  Jibbenainosays." 

But  a  better  reason  than  her  disinclination  to 
travel  it,  and  her  fears  lest,  if  Indians  were 
abroad,  they  would  be  found  lying  in  ambush  at 
the  upper  and  more  frequented  pass  of  the  river, 
the  girl  had  none  to  give;  and,  in  consequence, 
Roland,  (though  secretly  w^ondering  at  her  perti- 
nacity, and  still  connecting  it  in  thought  with  his 
oft-remembered  dream,)  expressing  some  impa- 
tience at  the  delays  they  had  already  experienced, 
led  the  way  back  to  the  buffalo-road,  resolved  to 
prosecute  it  with  vigour.  But  Fate  had  prepared 
for  him  other  and  more  serious  obstructions. 

He  had  scarce  regained  the  path,  before  lie  be- 
came sensible,  from  the  tracks  freshly  printed  in 
the  damp  earth,  that  a  horseman,  coming  from  the 


NJICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  123 

very  river  towards  which  he  was  bending  his 
way,  had  passed  by,  whilst  he  was  engaged  in  the 
wood  Hberating  the  horse-thief.  This  was  a  cir- 
cumstance that  both  pleased  and  annoyed  him. 
It  was  so  far  agreeable,  as  it  seemed  to  offer  the 
best  proof  that  the  road  was  open,  with  none  of 
those  dreadful  savages  about  it,  who  had  so  long 
haunted  the  brain  of  Telle  Doe.  But  what  chiefly 
concerned  the  young  soldier  was  the  knowledge 
that  he  had  lost  an  opportunity  of  inquiring  after 
his  friends,  and  ascertaining  whether  they  had  re- 
ally pitched  their  camp  on  the  banks  of  the  river; 
a  circumstance  which  he  now  rather  hoped  than 
dared  to  be  certain  of,  the  tempest  not  seeming 
to  have  been  so  violent  in  that  quarter,  as,  of  a 
necessity,  to  bring  the  company  to  a  halt.  If  they 
had  not  encamped  in  the  expected  place,  but,  on 
the  contrary,  had  continued  their  course  to  the 
appointed  Station,  he  saw  nothing  before  him  but 
the  gloomy  prospect  of  concluding  his  journey 
over  an  unknown  road,  after  night-fall,  or  return- 
ing to  the  Station  he  had  left,  also  by  night;  for 
much  time  had  been  lost  by  the  various  delays, 
and  the  day  was  now  declining  fast. 

These  considerations  threw  a  damp  over  his 
spirits,  but  taught  him  the  necessity  of  activity; 
and  he  was,  accordingly,  urging  his  little  party 
forward  with  such  speed  as  he  could,  when  there 
was  suddenly  heard  at  a  distance  on  the  rear  the 
sound  of  fire-arms,  as  if  five  or  six  pieces  were 
discharged  together,  followed  by  cries  not  less 
wild  and  alarming  than  those  uttered  by  the  de- 
spairing horse-thief. 

These  bringing  the  party  to  a  stand,  the  quick 
ears  of  the  soldier  detected  the  rattling  of  hoofs 
on  the  road  behind,  and  presently  there  came 
rushing  towards  them  with  furious  speed  a  soli- 


124  MCK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

tary  horseman,  his  head  bare,  his  locks  streaming 
in  the  wind,  and  his  whole  appearance  betraying 
the  extremity  of  confusion  and  terror;  which  was 
the  more  remarkable,  as  he  was  well  mounted, 
and  armed  with  the  usual  rifle,  knife,  and  hatchet 
of  the  back-woodsman.  He  looked  as  if  flying 
from  pursuing  foes,  his  eyes  being  cast  backwards, 
and  that  so  eagerly,  that  he  failed  to  notice  the 
party  of  wondering  strangers  drawn  up  before 
him  on  the  road,  until  saluted  by  a  halloo  from 
Roland ;  at  which  he  checked  his  steed,  looking 
for  an  instant  ten  times  more  confounded  and 
frightened  than  before. 

"  You  tarnation  critturs !"  he  at  last  baw^led, 
with  the  accents  of  one  driven  to  desperation,  "  if 
there  a'n't  no  dodging  you,  then  there  a^n't.  Here's 
for  you,  you  everlasting  varmints — due  your  darn- 
dest!" 

With  that,  he  clubbed  his  rifle,  and  advanced 
towards  the  party  in  what  seemed  a  paroxysm  of 
insane  fury,  brandishing  the  w^eapon  and  rolling 
his  eyes  with  a  ferocity  that  could  have  only 
arisen  from  his  being  in  that  happy  frame  of  miad 
which  is  properly  termed  "  frighted  out  of  fear." 

"  How,  you  villain !"  said  Roland,  in  amaze- 
ment, "do  you  take  us  for  wild  Indians'?" 

"What,  by  the  holy  hokey,  and  a'liH  you?" 
cried  the  stranger,  his  rage  giving  way  to  the 
most  lively  transports ;  "  Christian  men  !"  he  ex- 
claimed in  admiration,  '•  and  one  of  'em  a  niggur, 
and  two  of  'em  wimming!  oh  hokey!  You're 
Capting  Forrester,  and  I've  heerd  on  you !  Thought 
there  was  nothing  in  the  wood  but  Injuns,  blast 
their  ugly  picturs!  and  blast  him,  Sy  Jones  as 
was,  that  brought  me  among  em !  And  now  I'm 
talking  of  'em,  Capting,  don't  stop  to  ax  questions, 
but   run, — cut  and  run,  Capting,  for  there's   an 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  125 

everlasting  sight  of  'em  behind  me! — six  of  'em^ 
Capting,  or  my  name  a'n't  Pardon  Dodge, — six  of 
em, — all  except  one,  and  him  I  shot,  the  blasted 
crittur!  for,  you  see,  they  followed  me  behind, 
and  they  cut  me  off  before;  and  there  was  no 
dodging  'em, — (Dodge's  my  name,  and  dodg- 
ing's  my  natur',) — without  gitting  lost  in  the 
w^oods;  and  it  was  either  losing  myself  or  my 
scalp;  and  so  that  riz  my  ebenezer,  and  I  banged 
the  first  of  'em  all  to  smash, — if  I  did'nt,  then  it 
a'n't  no  matter!" 

"  What,  in  heaven's  name,"  said  Roland,  over- 
come by  the  man's  volubility  and  alarm  together, 
— "what  means  all  this?  Are  there  Indians  be- 
hind us  ?" 

"  Five  of  'em,  and  the  dead  feller, — shocking 
long-legged  crittur  he  was;  jumped  out  of  a  bush, 
and  seized  me  by  the  bridle — hokey!  how  he 
skeared  me ! — Gun  w  ent  off  of  her  own  accord,  and 
shot  him  into  bits  as  small  as  fourpence-ha'pennies. 
Then  there  was  a  squeaking  and  squalling,  and 
the  hull  of  'em  let  fly  at  me;  and  then  I  cut  on  the 
back  track,  and  they  took  and  took  atter;  and,  I 
calculate,  if  we  wait  here  a  quarter  of  a  minute 
longer,  they  will  be  on  us  jist  like  devils  and  roar- 
ing lions. — But  where  shall  we  run?  You  can't 
gin  us  a  hint  how  to  make  way  through  the  woods? 
— Shocking  bad  woods  to  be  lost  in!  Bad  place 
here  for  talking,  Capting, — right  'twixt  two  fires, 
— six  Injuns  behind  (and  one  of  'em  dead,)  and  an 
almighty  passel  before, — the  Ford's  full  on  'em  !" 

"What!"  said  Roland,  "did  you  pass  the  Ford? 
and  is  not  Colonel  Johnson,  with  his  emigrants, 
there?" 

"Not  a  man  on  'em  ;  saw  'em  streaking  through 
the  mud,  half  way  to  Jackson's.     Everlasting  ly- 
ing critturs,  them  emigrants!  told  me  there  was 
11* 


126  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

no  Injuns  on  the  road:  when  what  should  I  do 
but  see  a  hull  grist  on  'em  dodging  among  the 
bushes  at  the  river,  to  surround  me,  the  tarnation 
critturs.  But  I  kinder  had  the  start  on  'em,  and 
1  w^hipped  and  I  cut,  and  I  run,  and  I  dodged. 
And  so  says  I,  '  I've  beat  you,  you  tarnation, 
scalping  varmints !'  w4ien  up  jumps  that  long-leg- 
ged feller,  and  the  five  behind  him;  and,  blast 
'em,  that  riz  my  corruption.     And  I " 

"  In  a  word,"  said  Roland,  impatiently,  and 
with  a  stern  accent,  assumed  perhaps  to  reassure 
his  kinswoman,  w^hom  the  alarming  communica- 
tions of  the  stranger,  uttered  in  an  agony  of  terror 
and  haste,  filled  with  an  agitation  which  she  could 
not  conceal,  "  you  have  seen  Indians,  or  you  say 
you  have.  If  you  tell  the  truth,  there  is  no  time 
left  for  deliberation ;  if  a  falsehood " 

"  Why  should  we  wait  upon  the  road  to  ques- 
tion and  w^onder?"  said  Telle  Doe,  with  a  bold- 
ness and  firmness  that  at  another  moment  would 
have  excited  surprise ;  "why  should  we  wait  here, 
while  the  Indians  may  be  approaching?  The  fo- 
rest is  open,  and  the  Lower  Ford  is  free." 

"  If  you  can  yet  lead  us  thither,"  said  Roland, 
eagerly,  "all  is  not  yet  lost.  We  can  neither  ad- 
vance nor  return.  On,  maiden,  for  the  love  of 
Heaven!" 

These  hasty  expressions  revealed  to  Edith  the 
deep  and  serious  light  in  which  her  kinsman  re- 
garded their  present  situation,  though  at  first  seek- 
ing to  hide  his  anxiety  under  a  veil  of  composure. 
In  fact,  there  was  not  an  individual  present,  on 
whom  the  fatal  new^s  of  the  vicinity  of  the  red- 
man  had  produced  a  more  alarming  impression 
than  on  Roland.  Young,  brave,  acquainted  with 
war,  and  accustomed  to  scenes  of  blood  and  peril, 
it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  he  entertained  fear  on 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  127 

his  own  account;  but  the  presence  of  one  whom 
he  loved,  and  whom  he  would  have  rescued  from 
danger  at  any  moment,  at  the  sacrifice  of  his  own 
life  thrice  over,  was  enough  to  cause,  and  excuse, 
a  temporary  fainting  of  spirit,  and  a  desire  to  fly 
the  scene  of  peril,  of  which,  under  any  other 
circumstances,  he  would  have  been  heartily 
ashamed.  The  suddenness  of  the  terror — for  up 
to  the  present  moment  he  had  dreamed  of  no  dif- 
ficulty comprising  danger,  or  of  no  danger  imply- 
ing the  presence  of  savages  in  the  forest, — had 
somewhat  shocked  his  mind  from  its  propriety, 
and  left  him  in  a  manner  unfitted  to  exercise  the 
decision  and  energy  so  necessary  to  the  welfare 
of  his  feeble  and  well  nigh  helpless  followers. 
The  vastness  of  his  embarrassment,  all  disclosed  at 
once, — his  friends  and  fellow  emigrants  now  far 
away;  the  few  miles  which  he  had,  to  the  last, 
hoped  separated  him  from  them,  converted  into 
leagues;  Indian  enemies  at  hand;  advance  and 
retreat  both  alike  cut  oft';  and  night  approaching 
fast,  in  which,  without  a  guide,  any  attempt  to  re- 
treat through  the  wild  forest  would  be  as  likely  to 
secure  his  destruction  as  deliverance; — these  were 
circumstances  that  crowded  into  fiis  mind  with 
benumbing  eftect,  ei>grossing  his  faculties,  when 
the  most  active  use  of  them  was  essential  to  the 
preservation  of  his  party. 

It  was  at  this  moment  of  weakness  and  confu- 
sion, while  uttering  what  was  meant  to  throw 
some  little  discredit  over  the  story  of  Dodge,  to 
abate  the  terrors  of  Edith,  that  the  words  of  Telle 
Doe  fell  on  his  ears,  bringing  both  aid  and  hope 
to  his  embarrassed  spirits.  She,  at  least,  was  ac- 
quainted with  the  woods;  she,  at  least,  could  con- 
duct him,  if  not  to  the  fortified  Station  he  had 
left,  (and  bitterly  now  did  he  regret  having  left  it,) 


128  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

to  the  neglected  ford  of  the  river,  which  her  for- 
mer attempts  to  lead  him  thither,  and  the  memory 
of  his  dream,  caused  him  now  to  regard  as  a  city 
of  refuge  pointed  out  by  destiny  itself. 

"  Yous  hall  have  your  w^ay  at  last,  fair  Telie," 
he  said,  with  a  laugh,  but  not  of  merriment:  "Fate 
speaks  for  you;  and  whether  I  will  or  not,  we 
must  to  the  Lower  Ford." 

"  You  will  never  repent  it,"  said  the  girl,  the 
bright  looks  which  she  had  worn  for  the  few"  mo- 
ments she  w^as  permitted  to  controul  the  motions 
of  the  party,  returning  to  her  visage,  and  seeming 
to  emanate  from  a  rejoicing  spirit; — "they  will 
not  think  of  waylaying  us  at  the  Lower  Ford !" 

With  that,  she  darted  into  the  wood,  and,  fol- 
lowed by  the  others,  including  the  new-comer, 
Dodge,  w^as  soon  at  a  considerable  distance  from 
the  road. 

"  Singular,"  said  Roland  to  Edith,  at  whose 
rein  he  now  rode,  endeavouring  to  remove  her 
terrors,  which,  though  she  uttered  no  words,  were 
manifestly  overpowering, — "  singular  that  the  girl 
should  look  so  glad  and  fearless,  while  we  are,  I 
believe,  all  horribly  frightened.  It  is,  however,  a 
good  omen.  When  one  so  timorous  as  she  casts 
aside  fear,  there  is  little  reason  for  others  to  be 
frighted." 

"I  hope, — I  hope  so,"  murmured  Edith.  "But 
— but  I  have  had  my  omens,  Roland,  and  they 
were   evil   ones.      I   dreamed You   smile    at 


me 


I" 


"  I  do,"  said  the  soldier,  "  and  not  more  at  your 
joyless  tones,  my  fair  cousin,  than  at  the  coinci- 
dence of  our  thoughts.  /  dreamed  (for  I  also 
have  had  my  visions,)  last  night,  that  some  one 
came  to  me  and  w^hispered  in  my  ear  '  to  cross 
the  river  at  the  Lower  Ford,'  the  Upper  being 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  129 

dangerous.'  Verily,  I  shall  hereafter  treat  my 
dreams  with  respect.  I  suppose, — I  hope,  were  it 
only  to  prove  w^e  have  a  good  angel  in  common, 
— that  you  dreamed  the  same  thing?' 

"No, — it  was  not  that,"  said  Edith,  "with  a 
sad  and  anxious  countenance.  "  It  was  a  dream 
that  has  always  been  followed  by  evil.  I  dreamed 
.     But  it  will  offend  you,  cousin?" 

"  What !"  said  Roland,  "  a  dream?  You  dream- 
ed perhaps  that  I  forgot  both  wisdom  and  affec- 
tion, when,  for  the  sake  of  this  worthless  beast, 
Briareus,  I  drew  you  into  difficulty  and  peril  ?" 

"  No,  no,"  said  Edith,  earnestly,  and  then  added 
in  a  low  voice,  "I  dreamed  of  Richard  Braxley!" 

"  Curse  him !"  muttered  the  youth,  with  tones 
of  bitter  passion:  "it  is  to  him  we  owe  all  that 
now  afflicts  us, — poverty  and  exile,  our  distresses 
and  difficulties,  our  fears  and  our  dangers.  For 
a  wooer,"  he  added,  with  a  smile  of  equal  bitter- 
ness, "  methinks  he  has  fallen  on  but  a  rough  way 
of  proving  his  regard.  But  you  dreamed  of  him. 
Well,  what  was  it  ?  He  came  to  you,  with  the 
look  of  a  beaten  dog,  fawned  at  your  feet,  and 
displaying  that  infernal  will,  '  Marry  me,'  quoth 
he,  '  fair  maid,  and  I  will  be  a  greater  rascal  than 
before, — I  will  burn  this  will,  and  consent  to  enjoy 
Roland  Forrester's  lands  and  houses  in  right  of 
my  wife,  instead  of  claiming  them  in  trust  for  an 
heir  no  longer  in  the  land  of  the  hving.'  Cur!— 
and  but  for  you,  Edith,  I  w^ould  have  repaid  his 
insolence  as  it  deserved.  But  you  ever  intercede 
for  your  worst  enemies.  There  is  that  confound- 
ed Stackpole,  now :  I  vow  to  heaven,  I  am  sorry 
I  cut  the  rascal  down ! — But  you  dreamed  of 
Braxley!     What  said  the  villain ?" 

"  He  said,"  replied  Edith,  who  had  Kstened 
mournfully,   but  in  silence,  to  the  young  man's 


130  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS- 

hasty  expressions,  like  one  who  was  too  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  impetuosity  of  his  temper,  to 
think  of  opposing  him  in  his  angry  moments,  or 
perhaps  because  her  spirits  were  too  much  sub- 
dued by  her  fears  to  allow  her  to  play  the  moni- 
tress, — "  He  said,  and  frowningly,  too,  that  '  soft 
words  were  with  him  the  prelude  to  hard  resolu- 
tions, and  that  where  he  could  not  win  as  the  tur- 
tle, he  could  take  his  prey  like  a  vulture-/ — or 
some  such  words  of  anger.  Now,  Roland,  I  have 
twice  before  dreamed  of  this  man,  and  on  each 
occasion  a  heavy  calamity  ensued,  and  that  on 
the  following  day.  I  dreamed  of  him  the  night 
before  our  uncle  died.  I  drenmed  a  second  time, 
and  the  next  day  he  produced  and  recorded  the 
will  that  robbed  us  of  our  inheritance.  I  dreamed 
of  him  again  last  night;  and  what  evil  is  now 
hovering  over  us,  I  know  not,  but, — it  is  foolish 
of  me  to  say  so, — yet  my  fears  tell  me  it  will  be 
something  dreadful.'^ 

"Your  fears,  I  hope,  will  deceive  you,"  said 
Roland,  smiling  in  spite  of  himself  at  this  little 
display  of  weakness  on  the  part  of  Edith.  "  I 
have  much  confidence  in  this  girl,  Telle,  though  I 
can  scarce  tell  why.  A  free  road  and  a  round 
gallop  will  carry  us  to  our  journey's  end  by  night- 
fall ;  and,  at  the  worst,  we  shall  have  bright  star- 
Hght  to  light  us  on.  Be  comforted,  my  cousin.  I 
begin  heartily  to  suspect  yon  cowardly  Dodge,  or 
Dodger,  or  whatever  he  calls  himself,  has  been 
imposed  upon  by  his  fears,  and  that  he  has  ac- 
tually seen  no  Indians  at  all.  The  springing  up 
of  a  bush  from  under  his  horse's  feet,  and  the 
starting  away  of  a  dozen  frighted  rabbits,  might 
easily  explain  his  conceit  of  the  long-legged  In- 
dian, and  his  five  murderous  accomplices;  and 
as  for  the  savages  seen  in  ambush  at  the  Ford. 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  131 

the  shaking  of  the  cane-brake  by  the  breeze,  or  by 
.some  skulking  bear,  would  as  readily  account  for 
them.  The  idea  of  his  being  allowed  to  pass  a 
crew  of  Indians  in  their  lair,  without  being  pur- 
sued, or  even  fired  on,  is  quite  preposterous." 

These  ideas,  perhaps  devised  to  dispel  his  kins- 
woman's fears,  were  scarce  uttered  before  they 
appeared  highly  reasonable  to  the  inventor  him- 
self; and  he  straightway  rode  to  Dodge's  side, 
and  began  to  question  him  more  closely  than  he 
had  before  had  leisure  to  do,  in  relation  to  those 
wondrous  adventures,  the  recounting  of  which 
had  produced  so  serious  a  change  in  the  destina- 
tion of  the  party.  All  his  efforts,  however,  to  ob- 
tain satisfactory  confirmation  of  his  suspicion  were 
unavailing.  The  man,  now  in  a  great  measure 
reheved  of  his  terrors,  repeated  his  story  with  a 
thousand  details,  which  convinced  Roland  that  it 
was,  in  its  chief  features,  correct.  That  he  had 
actually  been  attacked,  or  fired  upon  by  some  per- 
sons, Roland  could  not  doubt,  having  heard  the 
shots  himself.  As  to  the  ambush  at  the  Ford,  all 
he  could  say  was,  that  he  had  actually  seen  seve- 
ral Indians, — he  knew  not  the  number, — stealing 
through  the  wood  in  the  direction  opposite  the 
river,  as  if  on  the  outlook  for  some  expected  par- 
ty,— Captain  Forrester's,  he  supposed,  of  which 
he  had  heard  among  the  emigrants ;  and  that  this 
giving  him  the  advantage  of  the  first  discovery, 
he  had  darted  ahead  with  all  his  speed,  until 
arrested  at  an  unexpected  moment  by  the  six 
warriors,  whose  guns  and  voices  had  been  heard 
by  the  party. 

Besides  communicating  all  the  information 
which  he  possessed  on  these  points,  he  proceeded 
without  waiting  to  be  asked,  to  give  an  account 
of  his  own  history ;  and  a  very  lamentable  one  it 


132  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

was.  He  was  from  the  Down-East  country,  a 
representative  of  the  Bay  State,  from  which  he 
had  been  seduced  by  the  arguments  of  his  old 
friend  Josiah  Jones,  to  go  'a  pedlering'  with  the 
latter  to  the  new  settlements  in  the  West ;  where 
the  situation  of  the  colonists,  so  far  removed  from 
all  markets,  promised  uncommon  advantages  to 
the  adventurous  trader.  These  had  been  in  a 
measure  realized  on  the  upper  Ohio;  but  the  pros- 
pect of  superior  gains  in  Kentucky  had  tempted 
the  two  friends  to  extend  their  speculations  fur- 
ther; and  in  an  evil  hour  they  embarked  their 
assorted  notions  and  their  own  bodies  in  a  flat- 
boat  on  the  Ohio ;  in  the  descent  of  which  it  was 
their  fortune  to  be  stripped  of  every  thing,  after 
enduring  risks  without  number  and  daily  attacks 
from  Indians  lying  in  wait  on  the  banks  of  the 
river;  which  misadventures  had  terminated  in  the 
capture  of  their  boat,  and  the  death  of  Josiah,  the 
unlucky  projector  of  the  expedition,  Pardon  him- 
self barely  escaping  with  his  life.  These  calami- 
ties were  the  more  distasteful  to  the  w^orthy 
Dodge,  whose  inclinations  were  of  no  warlike 
cast,  and  whose  courage  never  rose  to  the  fight- 
ing point,  as  he  freely  professed,  until  goaded  into 
action  by  sheer  desperation.  He  had  'got  enough,' 
as  he  said,  '  of  the  everlasting  Injuns,  and  of  Ken- 
tucky, where  there  was  such  a  shocking  deal  of 
'em,  that  a  peaceable  trader's  scalp  was  in  no 
more  security  than  a  rambling  scout's;'  and,  curs- 
ing his  bad  luck  and  the  memory  of  the  friend 
who  had  cajoled  him  into  ruin,  difliculty,  and  con- 
stant danger,  his  sole  desire  was  now  to  return  to 
the  safer  lands  of  the  East,  which  he  expected  to 
effect  most  advantageously  by  advancing  to  some 
of  the  South-eastern  stations,  and  throwing  him- 
self in  the  way  of  the  first  band  of  militia,  whose 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  138 

tour  of  duty  in  the  District  was  completed,  and  who 
should  be  about  to  return  to  their  native  State. 
He  had  got  enough  of  the  Ohio,  as  well  as  the 
Indians ;  the  wilderness-road  possessed  fewer  ter- 
rors, and,  therefore,  appeared  to  his  imagination 
the  more  eligible  route  of  escape. 


VOL.  I.--12 


134  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 


CHAPTER  X. 


Dodge's  story,  which  was  not  without  its  inte- 
rest to  Roland,  though  the  rapidity  of  their  pro- 
gress through  the  woods,  and  the  constant  neces- 
sity of  being  on  the  alert,  kept  him  a  somewhat 
inattentive  listener,  was  brought  to  an  abrupt  close 
by  the  motions  of  Telle  Doe,  who,  having  guided 
the  party  for  several  miles  with  great  confidence, 
began  at  last  to  hesitate,  and  betray  symptoms  of 
doubt  and  embarrassment,  that  attracted  the  sol- 
dier's attention.  There  seemed  some  cause  for 
hesitation:  the  glades,  at  first  broad  and  open, 
through  which  they  had  made  their  way,  were 
becoming  smaller  and  more  frequently  interrupted 
by  copses  ;  the  wood  grew  denser  and  darker ;  the 
surface  of  the  ground  became  broken  by  rugged 
ascents  and  swampy  hollows,  the  one  encumbered 
by  stones  and  mouldering  trunks  of  trees,  the 
other  converted  by  the  rains  into  lakes  and  pools, 
through  which  it  was  difficult  to  find  a  path; 
whilst  the  constant  turning  and  winding  to  right 
and  left,  to  avoid  such  obstacles,  made  it  a  still 
greater  task  to  preserve  the  line  of  direction  which 
Telle  had  intimated  was  the  proper  one  to  pursue. 
'Was  it  possible,'  he  asked  of  himself,  'the  girl 
could  be  at  fault?'  The  answer  to  this  question, 
when  addressed  to  Telle  herself,  confirmed  his 
fears.  She  was  perplexed,  she  was  frightened ; 
she  had  been  long  expecting  to  strike  the  neglect- 
ed road,  with  which  she  professed  to  be  so  well 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  *  135 

acquainted,  find,  sure  she  was,  they  had  ridden  far 
enough  to  find  it.  But  the  hills  and  swamps  had 
confused  her;  she  was  afraid  to  proceed, — she 
knew  not  where  she  was. 

This  announcenaent  filled  the  young  soldier's 
mind  with  alarm ;  for  upon  Telie's  knowledge  of 
the  woods  he  had  placed  his  best  reliance,  con- 
scious that  his  own  experience  in  such  matters 
was  as  little  to  be  depended  on  as  that  of  any  of 
his  companions.  Yet  it  was  necessary  he  should 
now  assume  the  lead  himself,  and  do  his  best  to 
rescue  the  party  from  its  difficulties;  and  this, 
after  a  little  reflection,  he  thought  he  could  scarce 
fail  in  effecting.  The  portion  of  the  forest  through 
which  he  was  rambling  w^as  a  kind  of  triangle, 
marked  by  the  two  roads  on  the  east,  with  its  base 
bounded  by  the  long  looked  for  river;  and  one  of 
these  boundaries  he  must  strike,  proceed  in  what- 
soever direction  he  would.  If  he  persevered  in  the 
course  he  had  followed  so  long,  he  must  of  neces- 
sity find  himself,  sooner  or  later,  in  the  path 
which  Telie  had  failed  to  discover,  and  failed,  as 
he  supposed,  in  consequence  of  wandering  away 
to  the  west,  so  as  to  keep  it  constantly  on  the  right 
hand,  instead  of  in  front.  To  recover  it,  then,  all 
that  was  necessary  to  be  done  was  to  direct  his 
course  to  the  right,  and  to  proceed  until  the  road 
was  found. 

The  reasoning  was  just,  and  the  probability  was 
that  a  few  moments  would  find  the  party  on  the 
recovered  path.  But  a  half-hour  passed  by,  and 
the  travellers,  all  anxious  and  doubting  and  filled 
with  gloom,  w^ere  yet  stumbling  in  the  forest, 
winding  amid  labyrinths  of  bog  and  brake,  hill 
and  hollow,  that  every  moment  became  wilder 
and  more  perplexing.  To  add  to  their  alarm,  it 
was  manifest  that  the  day  was  fast  approaching 


136  NICK  OF  THE  W00D3. 

its  close.  The  sun  had  set,  or  was  so  low  in  the 
heavens  that  not  a  single  ray  could  be  seen  trem- 
bling on  the  tallest  tree ;  and  thus  was  lost  the 
only  means  of  deciding  towards  what  quarter  of  the 
compass  they  were  directing  their  steps.  The 
mosses  on  the  trees  were  appealed  to  in  vain, — as 
they  will  be  by  all  who  expect  to  find  them  point- 
ing, like  the  mariner's  needle,  to  the  pole.  They 
indicate  the  quarter  from  which  blow  the  prevail- 
ing humid  winds  of  any  region  of  country  ;  but  in 
the  moist  and  dense  forests  of  the  interior,  they 
are  often  equally  luxuriant  on  every  side  of  the 
tree.  The  varying  shape  and  robustness  of  boughs 
are  thought  to  offer  a  better  means  of  finding  the 
points  of  the  compass ;  but  none  but  Indians,  and 
hunters  grown  gray  in  the  woods,  can  profit  by 
their  occult  lessons.  The  attempts  of  Roland  to 
draw  instruction  from  them  served  only  to  com- 
plete his  confusion ;  and,  by  and  by,  giving  over 
all  hope  of  succeeding  through  any  exercise  of 
skill  or  prudence,  he  left  the  matter  to  fortune  and 
his  good  horse,  riding,  in  the  obstinacy  of  despair, 
whithersoever  the  weary  animal  chose  to  bear 
him,  without  knowing  whether  it  might  be  afar 
from  danger,  or  backwards  into  the  vicinity  of  the 
very  enemies  whom  he  had  laboured  so  long  to 
avoid. 

As  he  advanced  in  this  manner,  he  was  once  or 
twice  inclined  to  suspect  that  he  was  actually  re- 
tracing his  steps,  and  approaching  the  path  by 
which  he  had  entered  the  depths  of  the  wood ;  and 
on  one  occasion  he  was  almost  assured  that  such 
was  the  fact  by  the  peculiar  appearance  of  a 
brambly  thicket,  containing  many  dead  trees, 
which  he  thought  he  had  noticed  while  following 
in  confidence  after  the  leading  of  Telle  Doe.  A 
nearer  approach  to  the  place  convinced  him  of  his 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  137 

error,  but  awoke  a  new  hope  in  his  mind,  by  show- 
ing him  that  he  was  drawing  nigh  the  haunts  of 
men.  The  blazes  of  the  axe  were  seen  on  the 
trees,  running  away  in  Hnes,  as  if  marked  by  the 
hands  of  the  surveyor;  those  trees  that  were 
dead,  he  observed,  had  been  destroyed  by  gird- 
hng ;  and  on  the  edge  of  the  tangled  brake  where 
they  were  most  abundant,  he  noticed  several 
stalks  of  maize,  the  relics  of  some  former  harvest, 
the  copse  itself  having  once  been,  as  he  supposed, 
a  corn-field. 

"It  is  only  a  tomahawk-improvement,"  said 
Telie  Doe,  shaking  her  head,  as  he  turned  towards 
her  a  look  of  joyous  inquiry ;  and  she  pointed  to- 
wards what  seemed  to  have  been  once  a  cabin  of 
logs  of  the  smallest  size, — too  small  indeed  for  ha- 
bitation,— but  which,  more  than  half  fallen  down, 
was  rotting  away,  half  hidden  under  the  weeds 
and  brambles  that  grew,  and  seemed  to  have 
grown  for  years,  within  its  little  area ;  "  there  are 
many  of  them  in  the  woods,  that  were  never 
settled." 

Roland  did  not  require  to  be  informed  that  a 
'  tomahawk-improvement,'  as  it  was  often  called 
in  tlibse  days,  meant  nothing  more  than  the  box 
of  logs  in  form  of  a  cabin,  which  the  hunter  or 
land-speculator  could  build  with  his  hatchet  in  a 
few  hours,  a  few  girdled  trees,  a  dozen  or  more 
groins  of  corn  from  his  pouch  thrust  into  the  soil, 
with  perhaps  a  few  poles  laid  along  the  earth  to 
indicate  an  enclosed  field  ;  and  that  such  improve- 
ments, as  they  gave  pre-emption  rights  to  the 
maker,  were  often  established  by  adventurers,  to 
secure  a  claim,  in  the  event  of  their  not  lighting 
on  lands  more  to  their  liking.  Years  had  evi- 
dently passed  by  since  the  maker  of  this  neglected 
improvement  had  visited  his  territory,  and  Roland 

2* 


138  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

no  longer  hoped  to  discover  such  signs  about  it  as 
might  enable  him  to  recover  his  lost  way.  His 
spirits  sunk  as  rapidly  as  they  had  risen,  and  he 
was  preparing  to  make  one  more  effort  to  escape 
from  the  forest,  while  the  day-light  yet  lasted,  or 
to  find  some  stronghold  in  which  to  pass  the 
night;  when  his  attention  was  drawn  to  Telle 
Doe,  who  had  ridden  a  little  in  advance,  eagerly 
scanning  the  trees  and  soil  around,  in  the  hope 
that  some  ancient  mark  or  footstep  might  point 
out  a  mode  of  escape.  As  she  thus  looked  about 
her,  moving  slowly  in  advance,  her  pony  on  a 
sudden  began  to  snort  and  prance,  and  betray 
other  indications  of  terror,  and  Telle  herself  was 
seen  to  become  agitated  and  alarmed,  retreating 
back  upon  the  party,  but  keeping  her  eyes  wildly 
rolling  from  bush  to  bush,  as  if  in  instant  expecta- 
tion of  seeing  an  enemy. 

"  What  is  the  matter  ?"  cried  Roland,  riding 
to  her  assistance.  "  Are  we  in  enchanted  land,  that 
our  horses  must  be  frightened,  as  well  as  our- 
selves?' 

"  He  smells  the  war-paint,"  said  Telle,  with  a 
trembling  voice; — "  there  are  Indians  near  us  !" 

"  Nonsense  !"  said  Roland,  looking  around,  and 
seeing,  with  the  exception  of  the  copse  just  passed, 
nothing  but  an  open  forest,  without  shelter  or  har- 
bour for  an  ambushed  foe. — But  at  that  moment 
Edith  caught  him  by  the  arm,  and  turned  upon 
him  a  countenance  more  wan  with  fear  than  that 
she  had  exhibited  upon  first  hearing  the  cries  of 
Stackpole.  It  expressed,  indeed,  more  than  alarm, 
— it  was  the  highest  degree  of  terror,  and  the 
feehng  was  so  overpowering,  that  her  lips,  though 
moving  as  in  the  act  of  speech,  gave  forth  no 
sound  whatever.  But  what  her  lips  refused  to 
tell,  her  finger,  though  shaking  in  the  ague  that 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  139 

convulsed  every  fibre  of  her  frame,  pointed  out; 
and  Roland,  following  it  with  his  eyes,  beheld  the 
object  that  had  excited  so  much  emotion.  He 
started  himself,  as  his  gaze  fell  upon  a  naked  In- 
dian stretched  under  a  tree  hard  by,  and  sheltered 
from  view  only  by  a  dead  bough  lately  fallen  from 
its  trunk,  yet  lying  so  still  and  motionless,  that  he 
might  easily  have  been  passed  by  without  obser- 
vation in  the  growing  dusk  and  twilight  of  the 
woods,  had  it  not  been  for  the  instinctive  terrors 
of  the  pony,  which,  like  other  horses,  and,  indeed, 
all  other  domestic  beasts  in  the  settlements,  often 
thus  pointed  out  to  their  masters  the  presence  of 
an  enemy. 

The  rifle  of  the  soldier  was  in  an  instant  cocked 
and  at  his  shoulder,  while  the  pedler  and  Empe- 
ror, as  it  happened,  were  too  much  discomposed 
at  the  spectacle  to  make  any  such  show  of  battle. 
They  gazed  blankly  upon  the  leader,  whose  piece, 
settling  down  into  an  aim  that  must  have  been 
fatal,  suddenly  wavered,  and  then,  to  their  sur- 
prise, was  withdrawn. 

"  The  slayer  has  been  here  before  us,'*  he 
exclaimed, — "  the  man  is  dead  and  scalped  al- 
ready!" 

With  these  words,  he  advanced  to  the  tree,  and 
the  others  following,  they  beheld  with  horror,  the 
body  of  a  savage  of  vast  and  noble  proportions, 
lying  on  its  face  across  the  roots  of  the  tree,  and 
glued,  it  might  almost  be  said,  to  the  earth  by  a 
mass  of  coagulated  blood,  thaU  had  issued  from 
the  scalped  and  axe-cloven  skull.  The  fragments 
of  a  rifle,  shattered,  as  it  seemed,  by  a  violent  blow 
against  the  tree  under  which  he  lay,  were  scatter- 
ed at  his  side,  with  a  broken  powder-horn,  a  splin- 
tered knife,  the  helve  of  a  tomahawk,  and  other 
equipments  of  a  warrior,  all  in  Hke  manner  shiv- 


140  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

ered  to  pieces  by  the  unknown  assassin.  Tfi^ 
warrior  seemed  to  have  perished  only  after  a  fear- 
ful struggle ;  the  earth  was  torn  where  he  lay, 
and  his  hands,  yet  grasping  the  soil,  were  dyed 
a  double  red  in  the  blood  of  his  antagonist,  or 
perhaps  in  his  own. 

While  Roland  gazed  upon  the  spectacle,  amaz- 
ed, and  wondering  in  what  manner  the  wretched 
being  had  met  his  death,  which  must  have  ha])- 
pened  very  recently,  and  whilst  his  party  was 
within  the  sound  of  a  rifle-shot,  he  observed  a 
shudder  to  creep  over  the  apparently  lifeless 
frame ;  the  fingers  relaxed  their  grasp  of  the 
earth,  and  then  clutched  it  again  with  violence;  a 
broken,  strangling  rattle  came  from  the  throat ; 
and  a  spasm  of  convulsion  seizing  upon  every 
limb,  it  was  suddenly  raised  a  little  upon  one  arnu 
so  as  to  display  the  countenance,  covered  with 
blood,  the  eyes  retroverted  into  their  orbits,  and 
glaring  with  the  sightless  whites.  It  was  a  horri- 
ble spectacle, — the  last  convulsion  of  many  that 
had  shaken  the  wretched  and  insensible,  yet  still 
suffering  clay,  since  it  had  received  its  death- 
stroke.  The  spasm  was  the  last,  and  but  mo- 
mentary ;  yet  it  sufficed  to  raise  the  body  of  the 
mangled  barbarian  so  far  that,  when  the  pang  that 
excited  it  suddenly  ceased,  and,  with  it,  the  life  of 
the  sufferer,  the  body  rolled  over  on  the  back,  and 
thus  lay,  exposing  to  the  eyes  of  the  lookers-on 
two  gashes  wide  and  gory  on  the  breast,  traced 
by  a  sharp  knife  and  a  powerful  hand,  and,  as  it 
seemed,  in  the  mere  wantonness  of  a  malice  and 
lust  of  blood  which  even  death  could  not  satisfy. 
The  sight  of  these  gashes  answered  the  question 
Roland  had  asked  of  his  own  imagination;  they 
were  in  the  form  of  a  cross;  and  as  the  legend,  so 
long  derided,  of  the  forest-fiend   recurred  to  his 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  141 

memory,  he  responded,  almost  with  a  feeling  of 
superstitious  awe,  to  the  trembling  cry  of  Tehe 
Doe:— 

"  It  is  the  Jibbenainosay  !"  she  exclaimed,  star- 
ing upon  the  corse  with  mingled  horror  and  won- 
der;— "Nick  of  the  Woods  is  up  again  in  the 
forest !" 


142  NICK  OF  THE  WOOI>S» 


CHAPTER  XL 


There  was  little  really  superstitious  in  the  tem- 
per of  Captain  Forrester;  and  however  his  mind 
might  be  at  first  stirred  by  the  discovery  of  a 
victim  of  the  redoubted  fiend  so  devoutly  believed 
in  by  his  host  of  the  preceding  evening,  it  is  cer- 
tain that  his  credulity  was  not  so  much  excited  ap 
his  surprise.  He  sprang  from  his  horse  and  ex- 
amined the  body,  but  looked  in  vain  for  the  mark 
of  the  bullet  that  had  robbed  it  of  life.  No  gun- 
shot wound,  at  least  none  of  importance,  appeared 
in  any  part.  There  was,  indeed,  a  bullet-hole  in 
the  left  shoulder^  and,  as  it  seemed,  very  recently 
inflicted  :  but  it  was  bound  up  with  leaves  and 
vulnerary  herbs,  in  the  usual  Indian  w^ay,  showing 
that  it  must  have  been  received  at  some  period 
anterior  to  the  attack  which  had  robbed  the  war- 
rior of  life.  The  gashes  across  the  ribs  were  the 
only  other  wounds  on  the  body ;  that  on  the  head, 
made  by  a  hatchet,  was  evidently  the  one  that  had 
caused  the  warrior's  death. 

If  this  circumstance  abated  the  wonder  the 
soldier  had  first  felt  on  the  score  of  a  man  being 
killed  at  so  short  a  distance  from  his  own  party, 
without  any  one  hearing  the  shot,  he  was  still 
more  at  a  loss  to  know  how  one  of  the  dead  man's 
race,  proverbial  for  wariness  and  vigilance,  should 
have  been  approached  by  any  merely  human 
enemy  so  nigh  as  to  render  fire-arms  unnecessary 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  143 

to  his  destruction.  But  that  a  human  enemy  had 
effected  the  slaughter,  inexpHcable  as  it  seemed, 
he  had  no  doubt;  and  he  began  straightway  to 
search  among  the  leaves  strewn  over  the  ground, 
for  the  marks  of  iiis  foot-steps;  not  questioning 
that,  if  he  could  find  and  follow  them  for  a  little 
distance,  he  should  discover  the  author  of  the 
deed,  and,  w^hich  was  of  more  moment  to  him- 
self, a  friend  and  guide  to  conduct  his  party  from 
the  forest 

His  search  was,  however,  fruitless;  for,  whether 
it  was  that  the  shadows  of  evening  lay  too  dark 
on  the  ground,  or  that  eyes  more  accustomed  than 
his  own  to  such  duties  were  required  to  detect  a 
trail  among  dried  forest  leaves,  it  was  certain  that 
he  failed  to  discover  a  single  footstep,  or  other 
vestige  of  the  slayer.  Nor  were  Pardon  Dodge 
and  Emperor,  whom  he  summoned  to  his  assist- 
ance, a  whit  more  successful ;  a  circumstance, 
however,  that  rathered  proved  their  inexperience 
than  the  supernatural  character  of  the  Jibbenain- 
osay,  whose  foot-prints,  as  it  appeared,  were  not 
more  ditficult  to  find  than  those  of  the  dead  Indian, 
for  which  they  sought  equally  in  vain. 

While  they  were  thus  fruitlessly  engaged,  an 
exclamation  from  Telle  Doe  drew  their  attention 
to  a  spectacle,  suddenly  observed,  which,  to  her 
awe-struck  eyes,  presented  the  appearance  of  the 
very  being,  so  truculent  yet  supernatural,  whose 
traces,  it  seemed,  w^ere  to  be  discovered  only  on 
the  breasts  of  his  lifeless  victims;  and  Roland, 
looking  up,  beheld  with  surprise,  perhaps  even  for 
a  moment  with  the  stronger  feeling  of  awe,  a 
figure  stalking  through  the  woods  at  a  distance, 
looking  as  tall  and  gigantic  in  the  growing  twi- 
light, as  the  airy  demon  of  the  Brocken,  or  the 
equally  colossal  spectres  seen  on  the  wild  summits 


144  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

of  the  Peruvian  Andes.  Distance  and  the  dark- 
ness together  rendered  the  vision  indistinct ;  but 
Roland  could  see  that  the  form  was  human,  that 
it  moved  onwards  with  rapid  strides,  and  with  its 
countenance  bent  upon  the  earth,  or  upon  another 
moving  object,  dusky  and  of  lesser  size,  that  rolled 
before  it,  guiding  the  way,  like  the  bowl  of  the 
dervise  in  the  Arabian  story ;  and,  finally,  that  it 
held  in  its  hands,  as  if  on  the  watch  for  an  enemy, 
an  implement  wondrously  like  the  firelock  of  a 
human  fighting-man.  At  first,  it  appeared  as  if 
the  figure  was  approaching  the  party,  and  that  in 
a  direct  line ;  but  presently  Roland  perceived  it 
was  gradually  bending  its  course  away  to  the 
left,  its  eyes  still  so  closely  fixed  on  its  dusky 
guide, — the  very  bear,  as  Roland  supposed,  which 
was  said  so  often  to  direct  the  steps  of  the  Jib- 
benainosay, — that  it  seemed  as  if  about  to  pass 
the  party  entirely  without  observation. 

But  this  it  made  no  part  of  the  young  soldier's 
resolutions  to  permit ;  and,  accordingly,  he  sprang 
upon  his  horse,  determined  to  ride  forwards  and 
bring  the  apparition  to  a  stand,  while  it  was  yet  at 
a  distance. 

"Man  or  devil,  Jibbenainosay  or  rambling  set- 
tler," he  cried,  "  it  is,  at  least,  no  Indian,  and  there- 
fore no  enemy.  Holla,  friend!"  he  exclaimed 
aloud,  and  dashed  forward,  followed,  though  not 
without  hesitation,  by  his  companions. 

At  the  sound  of  his  voice  the  spectre  started  and 
looked  up;  and  then,  without  betraying  either 
surprise  or  a  disposition  to  beat  a  mysterious  re- 
treat, advanced  to  meet  the  soldier,  walking  ra- 
pidly, and  waving  its  hand  all  the  while  with  an 
impatient  gesture,  as  if  commanding  the  party  to 
halt ; — a  command  which  was  immediately  obey- 
ed by  Roland  and  all. 


NICK  or  THE  WOODS.  145 

And  now  it  was,  that,  as  it  drew  nigh,  its  stature 
appeared  to  grow  less  and  less  colossal,  and  the 
wild  lineaments  with  which  fancy  had  invested  it, 
faded  from  sight,  leaving  the  phantom  a  mere 
man,  of  tall  frame  indeed, but  without  a  single  cha- 
racteristic of  dress  or  person  to  delight  the  soul 
of  wonder.  The  black  bear  dwindled  into  a  little 
dog,  the  meekest  and  most  insignificant  of  his 
tribe,  being  nothing  less  or  more,  in  fact,  than  the 
identical  Peter,  which  had  fared  so  roughly  in  the 
hands,  or  rather  under  the  feet,  of  Roaring  Ralph 
Stackpole,  at  the  Station,  the  day  before ;  while 
the  human  spectre,  the  supposed  fiend  of  the 
woods,  sinking  from  its  dignity  in  equal  propor- 
tion of  abasement,  suddenly  presented  to  Roland's 
eyes,  the  person  of  Peters  master,  the  humble, 
peaceful,  harmless  Nathan  Slaughter. 

The  transformation  was  so  great  and  unexpect- 
ed, for  even  Roland  looked  to  find  in  the  wan- 
derer, if  not  a  destroying  angel,  at  least  some 
formidable  champion  of  the  forest,  that  he  could 
scarce  forbear  a  laugh,  as  Nathan  came  stalking 
up,  followed  by  little  Peter,  who  stole  to  the  rear, 
as  soon  as  strangers  were  perceived,  as  if  to  avoid 
the  kicks  and  cuffs  which  his  experience  ha(* 
doubtless  taught  him  were  to  be  expected  on  all 
such  occasions.  The  young  man  felt  the  more 
inclined  to  indulge  his  mirth,  as  the  character 
which  Bruce  had  given  him  of  Wandering  Na- 
than, as  one  perfectly  acquainted  with  the  woods, 
convinced  him  that  he  could  not  have  fallen  upon 
a  better  person  to  extricate  him  from  his  danger- 
ous dilemma,  and  thus  relieved  his  breast  of  a 
mountain  of  anxiety  and  distress.  But  the  laugh 
with  which  he  greeted  his  approach  found  no  re- 
sponse from  Nathan  himself,  who,  having  looked 
with  amazement  upon  Edith  and  Telie,  as  if  mar- 

YOL.  I.— 13 


146  NICK  or  THE  WOODS. 

veiling  what  madness  had  brought  females  at  that 
hour  into  that  w^ild  desert,  turned  at  last  to  the 
soldier,  demanding,  with  inauspicious  gravity, — 

"  Friend !  does  thee  think  thee  is  in  thee  own 
parlour  with  thee  women  at  home,  that  thee 
shouts  so  loud,  and  laughs  so  merrily  ?  or  does 
thee  know  thee  is  in  a  wild  Kentucky  forest,  with 
murdering  Injuns  all  around  thee?" 

"  I  trust  not,"  said  Roland,  much  more  serious- 
ly ;  "  but,  in  truth,  we  all  took  you  for  Nick  of  the 
Woods,  the  redoubtable  Nick  himself;  and  you 
must  allow,  that  our  terrors  were  ridiculous 
enough,  when  they  could  convert  a  peaceful  man 
like  you  into  such  a  blood-thirsty  creature.  That 
there  are  Indians  in  the  wood  I  can  well  believe, 
having  the  evidence  of  Dodge,  here,  who  pro- 
fesses to  have  seen  six,  and  killed  one,  and  of  my 
own  eyes  into  the  bargain. — Yonder  lies  one, 
dead,  at  this  moment,  under  the  walnut-tree,  killed 
by  some  unknown  hand, — Telle  Doe  says  by  Nick 
of  the  Woods  himself. " 

"  Friend,"  said  Nathan,  interrupting  the  young 
man,  without  ceremony,  "  thee  had  better  think  of 
living  Injuns  than  talk  of  dead  ones;  for,  of  a 
truth,  thee  is  like  to  have  trouble  with  them !" 

"  Not  now,  I  hope,  with  such  a  man  as  you  to 
help  me  out  of  the  woods.  In  the  name  of  hea- 
ven, where  am  I,  and  whither  am  I  going  ?' 

"  Whither  thee  is  going,"  replied  Nathan,  "  it 
might  be  hard  to  say,  seeing  that  thee  way  of  tra- 
veUing  is  none  of  the  straightest:  nevertheless,  if 
thee  continues  thee  present  course,  it  is  my  idea, 
thee  is  travelling  to  the  tipper  Ford  of  the  river, 
and  will  fetch  it  in  twelve  minutes,  or  thereabouts, 
and,  in  the  same  space,  find  theeself  in  the  midst 
of  thirty  ambushed  Injuns." 

"  Good  heavens !"  cried  Roland,  "  have  we  then 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  147 

been  labouring  only  to  approach  the  cut-throats  T 
There  is  not  a  moment,  then,  to  lose,  and  your 
finding  us  is  even  more  providential  than  I  thought. 
Put  yourself  at  our  head,  lead  us  out  of  this  den  of 
thieves, — conduct  us  to  the  Low^er  Ford, — to  our 
companions,  the  emigrants  ;  or,  if  that  may  not  be, 
take  us  back  to  the  Station, — or  any  where  at  all, 
where  I  may  find  safety  for  these  females. — For 
myself,  I  am  incapable  of  guiding  them  longer." 

"  Truly,"  said  Nathan,  looking  embarrassed,  "  I 
would  do  what  I  could  for  thee,  but " 

"  But !  Do  you  hesitate  ?"  cried  the  Virginian, 
in  extreme  indignation  ;  "  will  you  leave  us  to  pe- 
rish, when  you,  and  you  alone,  can  guide  us  from 
the  forest  ?" 

"  Friend,"  said  Nathan,  in  a  submissive,  depre- 
cating tone,  "  I  am  a  man  of  peace ;  and  perad- 
venture,  the  party  being  so  numerous,  the  Injuns 
will  fall  upon  us  ;  and,  truly,  they  will  not  spare 
me  any  more  than  another ;  for  they  kill  the  non- 
fighting  men,  as  well  as  them  that  fight.  Truly,  I 
am  in  much  fear  for  myself;  but  a  single  man 
might  escape." 

"  If  you  are  such  a  knave,  such  a  mean-spirited, 
unfeeling  dastard,  as  to  think  of  leaving  these 
women  to  their  fate,"  said  Roland,  giving  way  to 
rage,  "  be  assured  that  the  first  step  will  be  your 
last; — I  will  blow  your  brains  out,  the  moment 
you  attempt  to  leave  us !" 

At  these  ireful  words,  Nathan's  eyes  began  to 
widen. 

"  Truly,"  said  he,  "  I  don't  think  thee  would  be 
so  wicked  !  But  thee  takes  by  force  that  which  I 
would  have  given  with  good  will.  It  was  not  my 
purpose  to  refuse  thee  assistance ;  though  it  is  un- 
seemly that  one  of  my  peaceful  faith  should  go 
with  fighting-men  among  men  of  war,  as  if  to  do 


148  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS, 

battle.  But,  friend,  if  we  should  fall  upon  the 
angry  red-nicn,  truly,  there  will  bloodshed  come 
of  it ;  and  thee  will  say  to  me, 'Nathan,  lift  up 
thee  gun  and  shoot ;'  and  peradventure,  if  I  say 
*  Nay^'  thee  will  call  me  hard  names,  as  thee  did 
before,  saying,  '  If  thee  don't,  I  will  blow^  thee 
brains  out !' — Friend,  I  am  a  man  of  peace ;  and 
if " 

"  Trouble  yourself  no  longer  on  that  score," 
said  the  soldier,  who  began  to  understand  how  the 
land  lay,  and  how  much  the  meek  Nathan's  re- 
luctance to  become  his  guide  was  engendered  by 
his  fears  of  being  called  on  to  take  a  share  in  such 
fighting  as  might  occur,  "  trouble  yourself  no  lon- 
ger, we  will  take  care  to  avoid  a  contest." 

"  Trulyv"  said  Nathan,  "that  may  not  be  as 
thee  chooses,  the  Injuns  being  all  around  thee." 

"  If  a  rencontre  should  be  inevitable,"  said  Ro- 
land, with  a  smile,  mingling  grim  contempt  of 
Nathan's  pusillaniuiity  with  secret  satisfaction  at 
the  thought  of  being  thus  able  to  secure  the  safety 
of  his  kinswoman^ "  all  that  I  shall  expect  of  you 
will  be  to  decamp  with  the  females,  wiiilst  we 
three,  Emperor^  Pardon  Dodge,  and  myself,  cover 
your  retreat :  we  can,  at  least,  check  the  assail- 
ants, if  we  die  for  it  !'^ 

This  resolute  speech  was  echoed  by  each  of  the 
other  combatants,  the  negro  exclaiming,  though 
with  no  very  valiant  utterance,  "  Yes,  massa!  no 
mistake  in  ole  Emperor ; — will  die  for  missie  and 
massa," — while  Pardon,  who  was  fast  relapsing 
into  the  desperation  that  had  given  him  courage 
on  a  former  occasion,  cried  out,  w^ith  direful  em- 
phasis, "  If  there's  no  dodging  the  critturs,  then 
there  a'n't ;  and  if  1  must  fight,  then  I  must ;  and 
them  that  takes  my  scalp  must  gin  the  worth  on't^ 
Qx  it  a'n't  no  matter  I" 


NICK  or  THE  WOODS.  149 

"  Truly,"  said  Nathan,  who  listened  to  these 
several  outpourings  of  spirit  with  much  compla- 
cency, "  I  am  a  man  of  peace  and  amity,  accord- 
ing to  my  conscience ;  but  if  others  are  men  of 
wrath  and  battle,  according  to  theirs,  I  will  not 
take  it  upon  me  to  censure  them, — nay,  not  even 
if  they  should  feel  themselves  called  upon  by  hard 
necessity  to  shed  the  blood  of  their  Injun  fellow- 
creatures, — who,  it  must  be  confessed,  if  w^e 
should  stumble  on  the  same,  will  do  their  best  to 
make  that  necessity  as  strong  as  possible.  But 
now  let  us  away,  and  see  what  help  there  is  for 
us ;  though  whither  to  go,  and  what  to  do,  there 
being  Injuns  before,  and  Injuns  behind,  and  Injuns 
all  around,  truly,  truly,  it  doth  perplex  me." 

And  so,  indeed,  it  seemed ;  for  Nathan  straight- 
way fell  into  a  fit  of  musing,  shaking  his  head, 
and  tapping  his  finger  contemplatively  on  the  stock 
of  that  rifle,  terrible  only  to  the  animals  that  fur- 
nished him  subsistence,  and  all  the  while  in  such 
apparent  abstraction,  that  he  took  no  notice  of  a 
suggestion  made  by  Roland, — namely,  that  he 
should  lead  the  way  to  the  deserted  Ford,  where, 
as  the  soldier  said,  there  was  every  reason  to  be- 
lieve there  were  no  Indians, — but  continued  to 
argue  the  difficulty  in  his  own  mind,  interrupting 
the  debate  only  to  ask  counsel  where  there  seem- 
ed the  least  probability  of  obtaining  it : 

"  Peter  !"  said  he,  addressing  himself  to  the  Httlc 
dog,  and  that  with  as  much  gravity  as  if  address- 
ing himself  to  a  human  adviser,  "  I  have  my 
thoughts  on  the  matter, — what  does  thee  think  of 
matters  and  things  ?' 

"  My  friend,"  cried  Roland,  impatiently,  "  this 
is  no  affair  to  be  intrusted  to  the  wisdom  of  a  brute 
dog !" 

**  If  there  is  any  one  here  w^hose  w^isdom  can" 
13* 


150  MCK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

serve  us  better,"  said  Nathan,  meekly,  "  let  hjm 
speak.  Thee  doivt  know  Peter,  friend,  or  tliee 
would  use  him  W'ith  respect.  Many  a  long  day 
has  he  followed  me  through  the  forest ;  and  many 
a  time  has  he  helped  me  out  of  harm  and  peril 
from  man  and  beast,  when  I  was  at  sore  shifts  to 
help  myself.  For  truly,  friend,  as  I  told  thee  be- 
fore, the  Injuns  have  no  regard  for  men,  whether 
men  of  peace  or  war;  and  an  honest, quiet,  peace- 
loving  man  can  no  more  roam  the  wood,  hunting 
for  the  food  that  sustains  life,  without  the  fear  of 
being  murdered,  than  a  fighting-man  in  search  of 
his  prey. — Thee  sees  now  w  hat  little  dog  Peter  is 
doing?  He  runs  to  the  tracks,  and  he  wags  his 
tail : — truly,  I  am  of  the  same  way  of  thinking  1" 
"  What  tracks  are  they  ?"  demanded  Roland, 
as  he  followed  Nathan  to  the  path  which  the  lat- 
ter had  been  pursuing,  when  arrested  by  the  sol- 
dier, and  where  the  little  cur  was  now  smelling 
about,  occasionally  lifting  his  head  and  w^agging 
his  tail,  as  if  to  call  his  master's  attention. 

"  What  tracks !"  echoed  Nathan,  looking  on  the 
youth  first  with  wonder,  and  then  w^ith  com- 
miseration, and  adding, — "  It  was  a  tempting  of 
Providence,  friend,  for  thee  to  lead  poor  helpless 
women  into  a  wild  forest.  Does  thee  not  know 
the  tracks  of  thee  ow^n  horses?" 

"  'Sdeath !"  said  Roland,  looking  on  the  marks, 
as  Nathan  pointed  them  out  in  the  soft  earth,  and 
reflecting  with  chagrin  how  wildly  he  had  been 
rambling,  for  more  than  an  hour,  since  they  had 
been  impressed  on  the  soil. 

"  Thee  knows  the  hoof-marks,"  said  Nathan, 
now  pointing,  with  a  grin,  at  other  tracks  of  a  dif- 
ferent appearance  among  them ;  "  perhaps  thee 
knows  these  footprints  also  ?" 

"  They  are  the  marks  of  footmen,"  said  the  sol- 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  151 

(Her,  in  suprise;  "  but  how  they  came  there  I  know 
not,  no  footmen  being  of  our  party." 

The  grin  that  marked  the  visage  of  the  man  of 
peace  widened  almost  into  a  laugh,  as  Roland 
spoke.  "Verily,"  he  cried,  "thee  is  in  the  wrong 
place,  friend,  in  the  forest !  If  thee  had  no  foot- 
men with  thee,  could  thee  have  none  after  thee  ? 
Look,  friend,  here  are  tracks,  not  of  one  man,  but 
of  five,  each  stepping  on  tiptoe,  as  if  to  tread 
lightly  and  look  well  before  him, — each  with  a 
moccasin  on, — each  with  a  toe  turned  in;  each — " 
"  Enough, — they  were  Indians  !"  said  Roland, 
with  a  shudder,  "  and  they  must  have  been  close 
behind  us !" 

"  Now,  friend,"  said  Nathan,  "  thee  will  have 
more  respect  fer  Peter ;  for,  truly,  it  was  Peter 
told  me  of  these  things,  w^hen  I  was  peaceably 
hunting  my  game  in  the  forest.  He  showed  me 
the  track  of  five  ignorant  persons  rambling 
through  the  wood,  as  the  hawk  flies  in  the  air, — 
round,  round,  round,  all  the  time, — or  like  an  ox 
that  has  been  browsing  on  the  leaves  of  the  buck- 
eye;* and  he  showed  me  that  five  evil-minded 
Shawnees  were  pursuing  in  their  trail.  So  thinks 
I  to  myself,  '  these  poor  creatures  will  come  to 
mischief,  if  no  one  gives  them  warning  of  their 
danger;'  and  therefore  I  started  to  follow,  Peter 
showing  me  the  way.  And  truly,  if  there  can  any 
good  come  of  my  finding  thee  in  this  hard  case, 
thee  must  give  all  the  thanks  and  all  the  praise  to 
poor  Peter !" 

"  I  wall  never  more  speak  ill  of  a  dog  as  long 

*  The  buck-eye,  or  American  horse-chestnut,  seems  to  be 
universally  considered,  in  the  West,  a  mortal  poison,  both  fruit 
and  leaves.  Cattle  affected  by  it,  are  said  to  play  many  re- 
markable antics,  as  if  intoxicated — turning-,  twisting,  and  roll- 
ing about  and  around,  until  death  closes  their  ag-onies. 


152  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

as  I  live,"  said  Roland.  "  But  let  us  away.  I 
thought  our  best  course  was  to  the  Lower  Ford ; 
but,  I  find,  I  am  mistaken.  We  must  away  in  the 
opposite  direction." 

"  Not  so,"  said  Nathan,  coolly ;  "  Peter  is  of 
opinion  that  w-e  must  run  the  track  over  again ; 
and,  truly,  so  am  I.  We  must  follow  these  same 
five  Injuns:  it  is  as  much  as  our  lives  are  worth." 

"  You  are  mad  !"  said  Roland.  "  This  will  be 
to  bring  us  right  upon  the  skulking  cut-throats. 
Let  us  fly  in  another  direction :  the  forest  is  open 
before  us." 

''  And  how  long  does  thee  think  it  will  keep 
open  ?  Friend,  I  tell  thee,  thee  is  surrounded  by 
Injuns.  On  the  south,  they  lie  at  the  Ford;  on  the 
west,  is  the  river  rolling  along  in  a  flood ;  and  at 
the  east,  are  the  roads  full  of  Shawnees  on  the 
scout.  Verily,  friend,  there  is  but  little  comfort 
to  think  of  proceeding  in  any  direction,  even  to 
the  north,  where  there  are  five  murdering  crea- 
tures full  before  us.  But  this  is  my  thought,  and, 
1  rather  think,  it  is  Peter's :  if  w^e  go  to  the  north, 
w^e  know  pretty  much  all  the  evil  that  lies  before 
us,  and  how  to  avoid  it ;  whereas,  by  turning  in 
either  of  the  other  quarters,  we  go  into  danger 
blindfold." 

"  And  how  shall  we  avoid  these  five  villains 
before  us?"  asked  Roland,  anxiously. 

"  By  keeping  them  before  us,"  replied  Nathan ; 
"  that  is,  friend,  by  following  them,  until  such  time 
as  they  turn  w-here  thee  turned  before  them,  (and, 
I  warrant  me,  the  evil  creatures  will  turn  where- 
soever thee  trail  does;)  when  we,  if  we  have  good 
luck,  may  slip  quietly  forward,  and  leave  them  to 
follow  us,  after  first  taking  the  full  swing  of  all 
thee  roundabout  vagaries." 

"  Take  your  own   course,"  said  Roland ;    '^  it 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  153 

may  be  the  best.  We  can,  at  the  worst,  but  stum- 
ble upon  these  five ;  and  then,  (granting  that  you 
can,  in  the  meanwhile,  bear  the  females  off,)  I  will 
answer  for  keeping  two  or  three  of  the  villains 
busy.  Take  your  own  course,"  he  repeated;  "  the 
night  is  darkening  around  us;  we  must  do  some- 
thing." 

"  Thee  says  the  truth,"  cried  Nathan.  "  As  for 
stumbling  unawares  on  the  five  evil  persons  thee 
is  in  dread  of,  trust  Peter  for  that:  thee  shall  soon 
see  what  a  friend  thee  has  in  little  dog  Peter. 
Truly,  for  a  peaceful  man  like  me,  it  is  needful  I 
should  have  some  one  to  tell  me  when  dangerous 
persons  are  nigh." 

With  these  words,  which  were  uttered  with  a 
good  countenance,  showing  how  much  his  confi- 
dence in  the  apparently  insignificant  Peter  pre- 
served him  from  the  fears  natural  to  his  character 
and  situation,  the  man  of  peace  proceeded  to  mar- 
shal the  company  in  a  line,  directing  them  to  fol- 
low him  in  that  order,  and  earnestly  impressing 
upon  all  the  necessity  of  preserving  strict  silence 
upon  the  march.  This  being  done,  he  boldly  strode 
forwards,  taking  a  post  at  least  two  hundred  paces 
in  advance  of  the  others,  at  which  distance,  as  he 
gave  Roland  to  understand,  he  desired  the  party 
to  follow,  as  was  the  more  necessary,  since  their 
being  mounted  rendered  them  the  more  liable  to 
be  observed  by  distant  enemies.  "  If  thee  sees  me 
wave  my  hand  above  my  head,"  were  his  last  in- 
structions to  the  young  soldier,  who  began  to  be 
well  pleased  with  his  readiness  and  forecast, 
"  bring  thee  people  to  a  halt;  if  thee  sees  me  drop 
upon  the  ground,  lead  them  under  the  nearest 
cover,  and  keep  them  quiet;  for  thee  may  then  be 
certain  there  is  mischief,  or  mischievous  people, 
nigh  at  hand.  But  verily,  friend,  w^ith  Peter's 
help,  we  will  circumvent  them  all." 


154  NICK  or  THE  WOODS. 

With  this  cheering  assurance,  he  now  strode 
forward  to  his  station,  and  coming  to  a  halt  with 
his  dog  Peter,  Roland  immediately  beheld  the  lat- 
ter run  to  a  post  forty  or  fifty  paces  further  in 
advance,  when  he  paused  to  receive  the  final 
orders  of  his  master,  which  were  given  with  a 
motion  of  the  same  hand  that  a  moment  after 
beckoned  the  party  to  follow.  Had  Roland  been 
sufficiently  nigh  to  take  note  of  proceedings,  he 
would  have  admired  the  conduct  of  the  little  brute, 
the  unerring  accuracy  with  which  he  pursued  the 
trail,  the  soft  and  noiseless  motion  with  which  he 
stepped  from  leaf  to  leaf,  casting  his  eyes  ever 
and  anon  to  the  right  and  left,  and  winding  the 
air  before  him,  as  if  in  reality  conscious  of  peril, 
and  sensible  that  the  welfare  of  the  six  mortals  at 
his  heels  depended  upon  the  faithful  exercise  of 
all  his  sagacity.  These  things,  however,  from  the 
distance,  Roland  was  unable  to  observe;  but  he 
saw  enough  to  convince  him  that  the  animal  ad- 
dressed itself  to  its  task  with  as  much  zeal  and 
prudence  as  its  master.  A  sense  of  security,  the 
first  felt  for  several  hours,  now  began  to  disperse 
the  gloom  that  had  oppressed  his  spirits;  and 
Edith's  countenance,  throughout  the  whole  of  the 
adventure  a  faithful,  though  doubtless  somewhat 
exaggerated,  reflection  of  his  own,  also  lost  much 
of  its  melancholy  and  terror,  though  without  at 
any  moment  regaining  the  cheerful  smiles  that 
had  decked  it  at  the  setting-out.  It  was  left  for 
Roland  alone,  as  his  mind  regained  its  elasticity, 
to  marvel  at  the  motley  additions  by  which  his 
party  had  increased  in  so  short  a  time  to  twice 
its  original  numbers,  and  to  speculate  on  the  pros- 
pects of  an  expedition  committed  to  the  guidance 
of  such  a  conductor  as  little  Peter. 


SICK  OF  THE  WOODS,  155 


CHAPTER  XIL 


The  distance  at  which  Roland  with  his  party 
followed  the  guides,  and  the  gloom  of  the  woods, 
prevented  his  making  any  close  observations  upon 
iheir  motions,  unless  when  some  swelling  ridge, 
nearly  destitute  of  trees,  brought  them  nearer  the 
light  of  the  upper  air.  At  other  times,  he  could 
do  little  more  than  follow  with  his  eye  the  tall 
figure  of  Nathan,  plunging  from  shadow  to  sha- 
dow, and  knoll  to  knoll,  with  a  pace  both  free  and 
rapid,  and  little  resembling  the  shambling,  hesitat- 
ing step  with  which  he  moved  among  the  haunts 
of  his  contemners  and  oppressors.  As  for  the  dog, 
httle  Peter,  he  was  only  with  difficulty  seen  when 
ascending  some  such  illuminated  knoll  as  has  been 
mentioned,  when  he  might  be  traced  creeping 
along  with  unabated  vigilance  and  caution. 

It  was  while  ascending  one  of  these  low,  and 
almost  bare  swells  of  ground,  that  the  little  ani- 
mal gave  the  first  proof  of  that  sagacity,  or  wis- 
dom, as  Nathan  called  it,  on  which  the  latter 
seemed  to  rely  for  safety  so  much  more  than  on 
his  own  experience  and  address.  He  had  no 
sooner  reached  the  summit  of  the  knoll  than  he 
abruptly  came  to  a  stand,  and  by  and  by  cowered 
to  the  earth,  as  if  to  escape  the  observation  of 
enemies  in  front,  whose  presence  he  indicated  in 
no  other  way,  unless  by  a  few  twitches  and  flour- 
ishes of  his  tail,  which,  a  moment  after,  became 
as  rigid  and  motionless  as  if,  with  his  body,  it  had 


156  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

been  suddenly  converted  into  stone.  The  whole 
action,  as  far  as  Roland  could  note  it,  was  similar 
to  that  of  a  w^ell-trained  spaniel  marking  game, 
and  such  was  the  interpretation  the  soldier  put 
upon  it,  until  Nathan,  suddenly  stopping,  waved 
his  hand  as  a  signal  to  the  party  to  halt,  which 
was  immediately  obeyed.  The  next  moment,  Na- 
than was  seen  creeping  up  the  hill,  to  investigate 
the  cause  of  alarm,  which  he  proceeded  to  do 
with  great  caution,  as  if  well  persuaded  there  was 
danger  at  hand.  Indeed,  he  had  not  yet  reached 
the  brow  of  the  eminence,  when  Roland  beheld 
him  suddenly  drop  upon  his  face,  thereby  giving 
the  best  evidence  of  the  existence  of  peril  of  an 
extreme  and  urgent  character. 

The  young  Virginian  remembered  the  instruc- 
tions of  his  guide  to  seek  shelter  for  his  party,  the 
moment  this  signal  was  given;  and,  accordingly, 
he  led  liis  followers  without  delay  into  a  little 
tangled  brake  hard  by,  where  he  charged  them 
to  remain  in  quiet,  until  the  cause  of  the  interrup- 
tion should  be  ascertained  and  removed.  From 
the  edge  of  the  brake  he  could  see  the  guide,  still 
maintaining  his  position  on  his  face,  yet  dragging 
himself  upward  like  a  snake,  until  he  had  reached 
the  top  of  the  hill  and  looked  over  into  the  maze 
of  forest  beyond.  In  this  situation  he  lay  for  seve- 
ral moments,  apparently  deeply  engaged  with  the 
scene  before  him ;  when  Forrester,  impatient  of 
his  silence  and  delay,  anxiously  interested  in  every 
turn  of  events,  and  perhaps  unwilling  at  a  season 
of  difficulty,  to  rely  altogether  on  Nathan's  unaid- 
ed observations,  gave  his  horse  in  charge  of  Em- 
peror, and  ascended  the  eminence  himself;  taking 
care,  however,  to  do  as  Nathan  had  done,  and 
throw  himself  upon  the  ground,  when  near  its 
summit.     In  this  way,  he  succeeded  in  creeping 


^ICK  or  THE  WOODS.  157 

to  Nathan's  side,  when  the  cause  of  alarm  was 
■soon  made  manifest. 

The  forest  beyond  the  ridge  was,  for  a  conside- 
rable distance,  open  and  free  from  undergrowth, 
the  trees  standing  wide  apart,  and  thus  admitting 
a  broad  extent  of  vision,  though  now  contracted 
by  the  increasing  dusk  of  evening.  Through  this 
expanse,  and  in  its  darkest  corner,  flitting  dimly 
along,  Roland's  eyes  fell  upon  certain  shadows,  at 
first  vague  and  indistinct,  but  which  soon  assumed 
the  human  form,  marching  one  after  the  other  in 
a  line,  and  apparently  approaching  the  very  ridge 
on  which  he  lay,  each  with  the  stealthy  y-et  rapid 
pace  of  a  wild-cat.  They  were  but  five  in  num- 
ber; but  the  order  of  their  march,  the  appear- 
ance of  their  bodies  seemingly  half  naked,  and  the 
busy  intentness  with  which  they  pursued  the  trail 
left  so  broad  and  open  by  the  inexperienced  wan- 
derers, would  have  convinced  Roland  of  their  sa- 
vage character,  had  he  possessed  no  other  evi- 
dence than  that  of  his  own  senses. 

""  They  are  Indians  !"  he  muttered  in  Nathan's 
ear. 

"^Shawnee  creatures,"  said  the  latter,  with  edi- 
fying coolness ; — ^^  and  will  think  no  more  of  tak- 
ing the  scalps  of  thee  two  poor  women  than  of 
digging  oflf  thee  owm." 

''  There  are  but  five  of  them,  and "  The 

young  man  paused,  and  the  gloom  that  a  spirit  so 
long  harassed  by  fears,  though  fears-  for  another, 
had  spread  over  his  countenance,  was  exchanged 
for  a  look  of  fierce  decision  that  better  became 
his  features.  "  Harkee,  man,"  he  abruptly  resum- 
ed, "  we  cannot  pass  the  ridge  without  being  seen 
hy  them  ;  our  horses  are  exhausted,  and  we  can- 
not hope  to  escape  them  by  open  flight  ?" 

VOL.  I. — 14 


158  iVICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

"  Verily,'*  said  Nathan,  "  thee  speaks  the 
truth." 

"  Nor  can  we  leave  the  path  we  are  now  pur- 
suing, without  fear  of  falling  into  the  hands  of  a 
party  more  numerous  and  powerful.  Our  only 
path  of  escape,  you  said,  was  over  this  ridge,  and 
tow^ards  yonder  Lower  Ford  ?" 

"  Truly,"  said  Nathan,  with  a  lugubrious  look 
of  assent, — "what  thee  says  is  true:  but  how  we 
are  to  fly  these  evil-minded  creatures,  with  poor 
frightened  women  hanging  to  our  legs " 

"  We  will  not  fly  them  !"  said  Roland,  the  frow^n 
of  battle  gathering  on  his  brows.  "  Yonder  crawl- 
ing reptiles, — reptiles  in  spirit  as  in  movement, — 
have  been  dogging  our  steps  for  hours,  waiting  for 
the  moment  when  to  strike  with  advantage  at  my 
defenceless  followers;  and  they  will  dog  us 
still,  if  permitted,  until  there  is  no  escape  from 
their  knives  and  hatchets,  for  either  man  or  wo- 
man. There  is  a  way  of  stopping  them, — there 
is  a  way  of  requiting  them  !" 

"  Truly,"  said  Nathan,  "  there  is  no  such  way; 
unless  we  were  wicked  men  of  the  world  and 
fighting-men,  and  would  wage  battle  with  them." 

"  Why  not  meet  the  villains  in  their  own  way  ? 
There  are  but  five  of  them, — and  footmen  too ! 
By  heavens,  man,  we  will  charge  them, — cut  them 
to  pieces,  and  so  rid  the  wood  of  them!  Four 
strong  men  like  us,  fighting,  too,  in  defence  of 
women, " 

^^Four!'^  echoed  Nathan,  looking  wonder  and 
alarm  together ;  "  does  thee  think  to  have  ?jie  do 
the  wicked  thing  of  shedding  blood  ?  Thee  should 
remember,  friend,  that  I  am  a  follower  of  peace- 
ful doctrines,  a  man  of  peace  and  amity." 

"  What !"  said  Roland,  warmly,  "  would  you 
not  defend  your  fife  from  the  villains  ?  Would  you 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  159 

suffer  yourself  to  be  tomahawked,  unresisting, 
when  a  touch  of  the  trigger  under  your  finger,,  a 
blow  of  the  knife  at  your  belt,  would  preserve 
the  existence  nature  and  heaven  alike  call  on  you 
to  protect  ?  Would  you  lie  still,  like  a  fettered 
ox,  to  be  butchered  V' 

"  Truly,"  said  Nathan,  "  I  would  take  myself 
away  ;  or,  if  that  might  not  be,  why  then,  friend, 
— verily,  friend,  if  I  could  do  nothing  else, — truly, 
I  must  then  give  myself  up  to  be  murdered." 

"  Spiritless,  mad,  or  hypocritical !"  cried  Ro- 
land, with  mingled  wonder  and  contempt.  Then 
grasping  his  strange  companion  by  the  arm,  he 
cried,  "  Harkee,  man,  if  you  would  not  strike  a 
blow  for  yourself, — would  you  not  strike  it  for 
another?  What  if  you  had  a  wife,  a  parent,  a 
child,  lying  beneath  the  uplifted  hatchet,  and  you 
with  these  arms  in  your  hands, — what!  do  you 
tell  me  you  would  stand  by  and  see  them  murder- 
ed ? — I  say,  a  wife  or  child  I — the  wife  of  your 
bosom, — the  child  of  your  heart ! — would  you  see 
them  murdered  ?' 

At  this  stirring  appeal,  uttered  with  indescriba- 
ble energy  and  passion,  though  only  in  a  whisper, 
Nathan's  countenance  changed  from  dark  to  pale, 
and  his  arm  trembled  in  the  soldier's  grasp.  He 
turned  upon  him  also  a  look  of  extraordinary 
wildness,  and  muttered  betwixt  his  teeth  an  an- 
swer that  betokened  as  much  confusion  of  mind 
as  agitation  of  spirits :  "  Friend,"  he  said,  "  who- 
ever thee  is,  it  matters  nothing  to  thee  what 
might  happen,  or  has  happened,  in  such  case  made 
and  provided.  I  am  a  man,  thee  is  another;  thee 
has  thee  conscience,  and  I  have  mine.  If  thee  will 
fight,  fight :  settle  it  with  thee  conscience.  If  thee 
don't  like  to  see  thee  kinswoman  murdered,  and 
thee  thinks  thee  has  a  call  to  battle,  do  thee  best 


160  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS- 

with  sword  and  pistol,  gun  and  tomahawk ;  kill 
and  slay  to  thee  liking :  it'  thee  conscience  finds  no 
fault  with  thee,  neither  will  L  But  as  for  me,  let 
the  old  Adam  of  the  flesh  stir  me  as  it  may,  'I 
have  no  one  to  fight  for, — wife  or  child,  parent  or 
kinsman,  I  have  none:  if  thee  will  hunt  the  world 
over,  thee  will  not  find  one  in  it  that  is  my  kins- 
man or  relative^" 

"  But  I  ask  you,"  said  Roland,  somewhat  sur- 
prised at  the  turn  of  Nathan's  answer,  "  I  ask. 
you,  if  you  had  a  wife  or  child " 

"  But  I  have  ?io^,"  cried  Nathan,  interrupting 
him  vehemently ;  "  and  therefore,  friend,  why 
should  thee  speak  of  them?  Them  that  are  dead, 
let  them  rest :  they  can  never  cry  to  me  more. — 
Think  of  thee  own  blood,  and  do  what  seems  best 
to  thee  for  the  good  thereof," 

"  Assuredly  I  would,"  said  Roland,  who,  how- 
ever much  his  curiosity  was  roused  by  the  unex- 
pected agitation  of  his  guide,  had  httle  time  to 
think  of  any  aflairs  but  his  own, — "  Assuredly  I 
would,  could  I  onfy  count  upon  your  hearty  as- 
sistance. I  tell  you,  man,  my  blood  boils  to  look 
at  yonder  crawling  serpents,  and  to  think  of  the 
ferocious  object  with  which  they  are  dogging  at 
my  heels;  and  I  would  give  a  year  of  my  life, — 
ay,  if  the  whole  number  of  years  were  but  ten, — 
one  whole  year  of  all, — for  the  privilege  of  pay- 
ing them  for  their  villa ny  beforehand." 

"  Thee  has  thee  two  men  to  back  thee,"  said 
Nathan,  who  had  now  recovered  his  composure ; 
"  and  with  these  two  men,  if  thee  is  warlike 
enough,  thee  might  do  as  much  mischief  as  thee 
conscience  calls  for.  But,  truly,  it  becomes  not  a 
man  of  peace  like  me  to  speak  of  strife  and  blood- 
shed  Yet,  truly,"  he  added,  hastily,  "  I  think 

there  must  mischief  come  of  this  meeting;    for. 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  161 

verily,  the  evil  creatures  are  leaving  thee  tracks, 
and  coming  towards  us!" 

"  They  stop !"  said  Forrester,  eagerly, — "  they 
look  about  them, — they  have  lost  the  track, — they 
are  coming  this  way !  You  will  not  fight,  yet  you 
may  counsel. — What  shall  I  do  ?  Shall  I  attack 
them?  What  caTi  I  do?" 

"Friend,"  replied  Nathan,  briskly,  "I  can't  tell 
what  thee  can  do ;  but  I  can  tell  thee  what  a  man 
of  Kentucky,  a  wicked  fighter  of  Injuns,  would 
do  in  such  a  case  made  and  provided.  He  would 
betake  him  to  the  thicket  where  he  had  hidden  his 
women  and  horses,  and  he  would  lie  down  with 
his  fighting  men  behind  a  log ;  and  truly,  if  these 
ill-disposed  Injun-men  were  foolish  enough  to  ap- 
proach, he  would  fire  upon  them  with  his  three 
guns,  taking  them  by  surprise,  and  perhaps,  wick- 
ed man,  killing  the  better  half  of  them  on  the  spot: 
and  then — " 

"  And  then,"  interrupted  Roland,  taking  fire  at 
the  idea,  "  he  would  spring  on  his  horse,  and  make 
sure  of  the  rest  with  sword  and  pistol?" 

"  Truly,"  said  Nathan,  "  he  would  do  no  such 
thing;  seeing  that,  the  moment  he  lifted  up  his 
head  above  the  log,  he  would  be  liker  to  have  an 
Injun  bullet  through  it  than  to  see  the  wicked 
creature  that  shot  it.  Verily,  a  man  of  Kentucky 
would  be  wiser.  He  would  take  the  pistols  thee 
speaks  of,  supposing  it  were  his  good  luck  to  have 
them,  and  let  fly  at  the  evil-minded  creatures  with 
them  also;  not  hoping,  indeed,  to  do  any  execution 
with  such  small  ware,  but  to  make  the  Injuns  be- 
lieve there  were  as  many  enemies  as  fire-arms: 
and,  truly,  if  they  did  not  take  to  their  heels  after 
such  a  second  volley,  they  would  be  foolisher  In- 
juns than  were  ever  before  heard  of  in  Ken- 
tucky." 

14* 


162  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

"  By  Heaven,"  said  Forrester,  "  it  is  good  ad- 
vice ;  and  I  will  take  it !"' 

"  Advice,  friend  !  I  don't  advise  thee,"  said  Na- 
than, hastily  :  "  truly,  I  advise  to  nothing  but  peace 
and  amity. 1  only  tell  thee  what  a  wicked  Ken- 
tucky fighting-man  would  do, — a  man  that  might 
think  it,  as  many  of  them  do,  as  law^ful  to  shoot  a 
prowling  Injun  as  a  skulking  bear." 

"  And  I  would  to  Heaven,"  said  Roland,  "  I  iiad 
but  two, — nay,  but  one  of  them  with  me  this  in- 
stant. A  man  Hke  Bruce  were  worth  the  lives  of 
a  dozen  such  scum. — I  must  do  my  best." 

"  Truly,  friend,"  said  Nathan,  who  had  listened 
to  the  warlike  outpourings  of  the  young  soldier 
with  a  degree  of  complacency  and  admiration  one 
would  have  scarce  looked  for  in  a  man  of  his 
peaceful  character,  "  thee  has  a  conscience  of 
thee  own,  and  if  thee  will  fight  these  Injun-men 
from  an  ambush,  truly,  I  will  not  censure  nor  ex- 
hort thee  to  the  contrary.  If  thee  can  rely  upon 
thee  tw^o  men,  the  coloured  person  and  the  other^ 
thee  may  hold  the  evil  creatures  exceeding  un- 
easy. 

"  Alas,"  said  Roland,  the  fire  departing  from 
his  eyes,  "  you  remind  me  of  my  weakness.  My 
men  will  not  fight,  unless  from  sheer  desperation. 
Emperor  I  know  to  be  a  coward,  and  Dodge,  I 
fear,  is  no  braver." 

"  Yerily,"  said  Nathan,  blufily,  "  it  was  foolish 
of  thee  to  come  into  the  woods  in  such  company, 
foolisher  still  to  think  of  fighting  five  Injun-men 
with  such  followers  to  back  thee ;  and  truly,"  he 
added,  ''  it  was  foolishest  of  all  to  put  the  safe- 
keeping of  such  helpless  creatures  into  the  hands 
of  one  who  can  neither  fight  for  them  nor  for  him- 
self. Nevertheless,  thee  is  as  a  babe  and  suckling 
in  the  woods,  and  Peter  and  I  w^ill  do  the  best  we 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  163 

can  for  thee.  It  is  lucky  for  thee,  that  as  thee  can- 
not fight,  thee  has  the  power  to  fly ;  and,  truly,  for 
the  poor  women's  sake,  it  is  better  thee  should 
leave  the  woods  in  peace." 

With  that,  Nathan  directed  the  young  man's  at- 
tention to  the  pursuing  foes,  who,  having  by  some 
mischance,  lost  the  trail,  had  scattered  about  in 
search  of  it,  and  at  last  recovered  it;  though  not 
before  two  of  them  had  approached  so  nigh  the 
ridge  on  which  the  observers  lay  as  to  give  just 
occasion  for  fear  lest  they  should  cross  it  imme- 
diately in  front  of  the  party  of  travellers.  The 
deadly  purpose  with  which  the  barbarians  were 
pursuing  him  Roland  could  infer  from  the  cau- 
tious silence  preserved  while  they  w^ere  searching 
for  the  lost  tracks ;  and  even  when  these  were 
regained,  the  discovery  was  communicated  from 
one  to  another  merely  by  signs,  not  a  man  utter- 
ing so  much  as  a  word.  In  a  few  moments,  they 
were  seen  again,  formed  in  single  file,  steahng 
through  the  w^oods  with  a  noiseless  but  rapid 
pace,  and,  fortunately,  bending  their  steps  towards 
a  distant  part  of  the  ridge,  where  Roland  and  his 
companions  had  so  lately  crossed  it. 

"  Get  thee  down  to  thee  people,"  said  Nathan  ; 
"  lead  them  behind  the  thicket,  and  when  thee  sees 
me  beckon  thee,  carry  them  boldly  over  the  hill. 
Thee  must  pass  it,  while  the  Shawnee-men  are 
behind  yonder  clump  of  trees,  W'hich  is  so  luckily 
for  thee  on  the  very  comb  of  the  swell.  Be  quick 
in  obeying,  friend,  or  the  evil  creatures  may  catch 
sight  of  thee :  thee  has  no  time  to  lose." 

The  ardour  of  battle  once  driven  from  his  mind, 
Roland  was  able  to  perceive  the  folly  of  risking 
a  needless  contest  betwixt  a  superior  body  of  w^ild 
Indian  w-arriors  and  his  own  followers.  But  had 
his  warlike  spirit  been  at  its  height,  it  must  have 


164  MCK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

been  quelled  in  a  moment  by  the  appearance  of 
his  party,  left  in  the  thicket,  during  his  ^brief  ab- 
sence on  the  hill,  to  feed  their  imaginations  with 
terrors  of  every  appalhng  character ;  in  which  oc- 
cupation, as  he  judged  at  a  glance,  the  gallant 
Dodge  and  Emperor  had  been  even  more  indus- 
trious than  the  females,  the  negro  looking  the 
very  personification  of  mute  horror,  and  bending 
Jow  on  his  saddle  as  if  expecting  every  instant  a 
shower  of  Indian  bullets  to  be  let  fly  into  the 
thicket;  while  Pardon  expressed  the  state  of  his 
feelings  by  crying  aloud,  as  soon  as  Roland  ap- 
peared, "  I  say,  capting,  if  you  seed  'em,  a'n't 
there  no  dodging  of  'em  no  how?" 

"  We  can  escape,  Roland !"  exclaimed  Edith, 
anticipating  the  soldier's  news  from  his  counte- 
nance ;  "  the  good  man  can  save  us  ?" 

"  I  hope,  I  trust  so,"  replied  the  kinsman :  "  we 
are  in  no  immediate  danger.  Be  composed,  and 
for  your  lives,  all  now  preserve  silence." 

A  few  words  served  to  explain  the  posture  of 
affairs,  and  a  few  seconds  to  transfer  the  party 
from  its  ignoble  hiding-place  to  the  open  wood 
behind  it ;  when  Roland,  casting  his  eyes  to  where 
Nathan  lay  motionless  on  the  hill,  awaited  impa- 
tiently the  expected  signal.  Fortunately,  it  was 
soon  given ;  and,  in  a  few  moments  more,  the 
party,  moving  briskly  but  stealthily  over  the  emi- 
nence, had  plunged  into  the  dark  forest  beyond, 
leaving  the  baffled  pursuers  to  follow  afterwards  as 
they  might. 

"  Now,"  said  Nathan,  taking  post  at  Roland's 
side,  and  boldly  directing  his  course  across  the 
track  of  the  enemy,  "  we  have  the  evil  creatures 
behind  us,  and,  truly,  there  we  will  keep  them. 
And  now,  friend  soldier,  since  such  thee  is,  thee 
must  make  thee  horses  do  duty,  tired  or  not;  for 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  165 

if  we  reach  not  the  Old  Ford  before  darkness 
closes  on  us,  we  may  find  but  ill  fortune  crossing 
the  waters. — Hark,  friend !  does  thee  hear?'  he 
exclaimed,  coming  to  a  pause,  as  a  sudden  and 
frightful  yell  suddenly  rose  in  the  forest  beyond 
the  ridge,  obviously  proceeding  from  the  five  foes, 
and  expressing  at  once  surprise,  horror,  and  lamen- 
tation: "Did  thee  not  say  thee  found  a  dead  Injun 
in  the  w^ood  ?" 

"  We  did,"  replied  the  soldier,  "  the  body  of  an 
Indian,  horribly  mangled;  and,  if  I  am  to  believe 
the  strange  story  I  have  heard  of  the  Jibbenaino- 
say,  it  was  some  of  his  bloody  work." 

"  It  is  good  for  thee,  then,  and  the  maidens  that 
is  with  thee,"  said  Nathan ;  "  for,  truly,  the  evil 
creatures  have  found  that  same  dead  man,  being 
doubtless  one  of  their  own  scouting  companions ; 
and,  truly,  they  say  the  Injuns,  in  such  cases  made 
and  provided,  give  over  their  evil  designs  in  ter- 
ror and  despair ;  in  which  case,  as  I  said,  it  will 
be  good  for  thee  and  thee  companions.  But  fol- 
low, friends,  and  tarry  not  to  ask  questions.  Thee 
poor  women  shall  come  to  no  harm,  if  Nathan 
Slaughter  or  Uttle  dog  Peter  can  help  them." 

With  these  words  of  encouragement,  Nathan, 
bounding  along  with  an  activity  that  kept  him 
ever  in  advance  of  the  mounted  wanderers,  led 
the  way  from  the  open  forest  into  a  labyrinth  of 
brakes  and  bogs,  through  paths  traced  rather  by 
wolves  and  bears  than  any  nobler  animals,  so 
wild,  so  difficult,  and  sometimes,  in  appearance,  so 
impracticable  to  be  pursued,  that  Roland,  bewil- 
dered from  the  first,  looked  every  moment  to  find 
himself  plunged  into  difficulties  from  which  neither 
the  zeal  of  Nathan  nor  the  sagacity  of  the  unpre- 
tending Peter  could  extricate  his  weary  followers. 
The   night   was  coming  fast,  and  coming  with 


166  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

clouds  and  distant  peals  of  thunder,  the  harbingers 
of  new  tempests ;  and  how  the  journey  was  to  be 
continued,  when  darkness  should  at  last  invest 
them,  through  the  wild  mazes  of  vine  and  brake 
in  which  they  now  wandered,  was  a  question 
which  he  scarce  durst  answer.  But  night  came, 
and  still  Nathan  led  the  way  with  unabated  confi- 
dence and  activity,  professing  a  very  hearty  con- 
tempt for  all  perils  and  dithculties  of  the  woods, 
except  such  as  proceeded  from  "  evil-minded 
Shawnee  creatures;"  and,  indeed,  averring  that 
there  was  scarce  a  nook  in  the  forest  for  miles 
around,  with  which  he  w^as  not  as  well  acquainted 
as  with  the  patches  of  his  own  leathern  garments. 
"  Truly,"  said  he,  "  when  I  first  came  to  this  land, 
I  did  make  me  a  little  cabin  in  a  place  hard  by ; 
but  the  Injuns  burned  the  same ;  and,  verily,  had 
it  not  been  for  little  Peter,  who  gave  me  a  hint  of 
their  coming,  I  should  have  been  burned  with  it. 
Be  of  good  heart,  friend :  if  thee  will  keep  the  ill- 
meaning  Injun-men  out  of  my  way,  I  will  adven- 
ture to  lead  thee  any-where  thee  will,  within 
twenty  miles  of  this  place,  on  the  darkest  night, 
and  that  through  the  thickest  cane,  or  deepest 
swamp,  thee  can  lay  eyes  on, — that  is,  if  I  have 
but  little  dog  Peter  to  help  me.  Courage,  friend ; 
thee  is  now  coming  fast  to  the  rivefr;  and,  if  we 
have  but  good  luck  in  crossing  it,  thee  shall,  per- 
adventure,  find  theeself  nearer  thee  friends  than 
thee  thinks  for." 

This  agreeable  assurance  was  a  cordial  to  the 
spirits  of  all,  and  the  travellers  now  finding  them- 
selves, though  still  in  profound  darkness,  moving 
through  the  open  woodlands  again,  instead  of  the 
maze  of  copses  that  had  so  long  confined  them, 
Roland  took  advantage  of  the  change  to  place 
himself  at  Nathan's  side,  and  endeavour  to  draw 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  167 

from  him  some  account  of  his  history,  and  the 
causes  that  had  brought  him  into  a  position  and 
way  of  hfe  so  ill  suited  to  his  faith  and  peaceful 
habits.  To  his  questions,  however,  Nathan  seemed 
little  disposed  to  return  satisfactory  answers,  ex- 
cept in  so  far  as  they  related  to  his  adventures  since 
the  period  of  his  coming  to  the  frontier;  of  which 
he  spoke  very  freely,  though  succinctly.  He  had 
built  him  cabins,  like  other  lonely  settlers,  and 
planted  cornfields,  from  which  he  had  been  driven, 
time  after  time,  by  the  evil  Shawnees,  incurring 
frequent  perils  and  hardships;  which,  with  the- 
persecutions  he  endured  from  his  more  warlike 
and  intolerant  neighbours,  gradually  drove  him 
into  the  forest  to  seek  a  precarious  subsistence 
from  the  spoils  of  the  chase.  As  to  his  past  life, 
and  the  causes  that  had  made  him  a  dweller  of  the 
wilderness,  he  betrayed  so  little  inclination  to 
satisfy  the  young  man's  curiosity,  that  Roland 
dropped  the  subject  entirely,  not  however  without 
suspecting,  that  the  imputations  Bruce  had  cast 
upon  his  character  might  have  had  some  founda- 
tion in  truth. 

But  while  conning  these  things  over  in  his 
mind,  on  a  sudden  the  soldier  stepped  from  the 
dark  forest  into  a  broad  opening,  canopied  only 
by  the  sky,  sweeping  like  a  road  through  the 
wood,  in  which  it  w'as  lost  behind  him ;  while,  in 
front,  it  sank  abruptly  into  a  deep  hollow  or  gulf, 
in  which  was  heard  the  sullen  rush  of  an  impetuous 
river. 


168  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


The  roar  of  the  moving  flood,  for  such,  by  its 
noise,  it  seemed,  as  they  descended  the  river-bank, 
to  which  Nathan  had  so  skilfully  conducted  them, 
awoke  in  Roland's  bosom  a  feeling  of  dismay. 

"  Fear  not,"  said  the  guide,  to  whom  he  im- 
parted his  doubts  of  the  safety  of  the  ford;  "there 
is  more  danger  in  one  single  skulking  Shawnee 
than  ten  thousand  such  sputtering  brooks.  Verily, 
the  ford  is  good  enough,  though  deep  and  rough; 
and  if  the  water  should  soil  thee  young  women's 
garments  a  little,  thee  should  remember  it  will  not 
make  so  ugly  a  stain  as  the  blood-mark  of  a 
scalping  savage." 

"Lead  on,"  said  Pardon  Dodge,  with  unexpect- 
ed spirit;  "  I  am  not  one  of  them  'ere  fellers  as 
fears  a  big  river ;  and  my  hoss  is  a  dreadful  fine 
swimmer." 

"  In  that  case,"  said  Nathan,  "  if  thee  consents 
to  the  same,  I  will  get  up  behind  thee,  and  so  pass 
over  dry-shod ;  for  the  feel  of  wet  leather- 
breeches  is  quite  uncomfortable." 

This  proposal,  being  reasonable  enough,  was 
readily  acceded  to,  and  Nathan  was  in  the  act  of 
chmbing  to  the  crupper  of  Dodge's  horse,  when 
little  Peter  began  to  manifest  a  prudent  desire  to 
pass  the  ford  dry-shod  also,  by  pawing  at  his  mas- 
ter's heels,  and  beseeching  his  notice  with  sundry 
ow  but  expressive  whinings.  Such,  at  least,  was 
the  interpretation  which  Roland,  who  perceived  the 


XICK  OF  THE  WOODS,  160 

animal's  motions,  was  inclined  to  put  upon  them. 
He  was,  therefore,  not  a  little  surprised  w^hen  Na- 
than, starting  from  the  stirrup,  into  which  he  had 
cUmbed,  leaped  again  to  the  ground,  staring  around 
him  from  right  to  left  with  every  appearance  of 
alarm. 

*'  Right,  Peter !"  he  at  last  muttered,  fixing  his 
eye  upon  the  further  bank  of  the  river,  a  dark 
mass  of  hill  and  forest  that  rose  in  dim  relief 
against  the  clouded  sky,  overshadowing  the  whole 
stream,  which  lay  like  a  pitchy  abyss  betwixt  it 
and  the  travellers, — "  right,  Peter !  thee  eyes  is  as 
good  as  thee  nose — thee  is  determined  the  poor 
women  shall  not  be  murdered  !" 

"What  is  it  you  see?'  demanded  Forrester, 
"  and  why  do  you  talk  of  murdering  ?' 

*'  Speak  low,  and  look  across  the  river,"  whis- 
pered the  guide,  in  reply ;  "  does  thee  see  the 
light  glimmering  amone  the  rocks  by  the  road- 
side ?" 

"  I  see  neither  rocks  nor  road, — all  is  to  my 
eyes  confused  blackness ;  and  as  for  a  light,  I  see 
nothing Stay  !    No ;  'tis  the  gleam  of  a  fire- 

riy." 

"The  gleam  of  a  fire-fly!"  murmured  Nathan, 
with  tones  that  seemed  to  mingle  wonder  and  de- 
rision with  feelings  of  a  much  more  serious  cha- 
racter ;  "  it  is  such  a  fire-fly  as  might  burn  a  house, 
or  roast  a  living  captive  at  the  stake : — it  is  a 
brand  in  the  hands  of  a  'camping  Shawnee ! 
Look,  friend ;  he  is  blowing  it  into  a  flame ;  and 
presently  thee  will  see  the  whole  bank  around  it 
in  a  glow." 

It  was  even  as  Nathan  said.  Almost  while  he 
was  yet  speaking,  the  light,  which  all  now  clearly 
beheld,  at  first  a  point  as  small  and  faint  as  the 
spark  of  a  lampyris,  and  then  a  star  scarce  hig- 

VOL.  I. — 15 


170  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

ger  or  brighter  than  the  torch  of  a  jack-o'-lantern, 
suddenly  grew  in  magnitude,  projecting  a  long 
and  lance-like,  though  broken,  reflection  over  the 
wheeling  current,  and  then  as  suddenly  shot  into 
a  bright  and  ruddy  blaze,  illumining  hill  and  river, 
and  even  the  anxious  countenances  of  the  travel- 
lers. At  the  same  time,  a  dark  figure,  as  of  a  man  en- 
gaged feeding  the  flame  with  fresh  fuel,  was  plainly 
seen  twice  or  thrice  to  pass  before  it.  How  many 
others,  his  comrades,  might  be  watching  its  in- 
creasing blaze,  or  preparing  for  their  wild  slum- 
bers, among  the  rocks  and  bushes  where  it  was 
kindled,  it  was  impossible  to  divine.  The  sight  of 
the  fire  itself  in  such  a  solitary  spot,  and  under 
such  circumstances,  even  if  no  attendant  had  been 
seen  by  it,  would  have  been  enough  to  alarm  the 
travellers,  and  compel  the  conviction  that  their 
enemies  had  not  forgotten  to  station  a  force  at 
this  neglected  ford,  as  well  as  at  the  other  more 
frequented  one  above,  and  thus  to  deprive  them  of 
the  last  hope  of  escape. 

This  unexpected  incident,  the  climax  of  a  long 
series  of  disappointments,  all  of  a  character  so 
painful  and  exciting,  drove  the  young  soldier  again 
to  despair ;  which  feeling  the  tantalizing  sense 
that  he  was  now  within  but  a  few  miles  of  his 
companions  in  exile,  and  separated  from  them  only 
by  the  single  obstruction  before  him,  exasperated 
into  a  species  of  fury  bordering  almost  upon 
phrensy. 

"  There  is  but  one  w^ay  of  escape,"  he  exclaim- 
ed, without  venturing  even  a  look  towards  his 
kinswoman,  or  seeking  by  idle  words  to  conceal 
the  danger  of  their  situation:  "  we  must  pass  the 
river.  The  roar  of  the  water  will  drown  the 
noise  of  our  footsteps ;  we  can  cross  unheard  and 
unlooked  for;  and  then,  if  there  be  no  way  of 


NICK  or  THE  WOODS.  171 

avoiding  them,  we  can  pour  a  volley  among  the 
rascals  at  their  fire,  and  take  advantage  of  their 
confusion  to  gallop  by.  Look  to  the  w^omen,  Na- 
than Slaughter;  and  you.  Pardon  Dodge,  and 
Emperor,  follow  me,  and  do  as  you  see  me  do." 

"  Truly,"  said  Wandering  Nathan,  with  ad- 
mirable coolness  and  complacency,  "thee  is  a 
courageous  young  man,  and  a  young  man  of  sense 
and  spirit, — that  is  to  say,  after  thee  own  sense  of 
matters  and  things :  and,  truly,  if  it  were  not  for 
the  poor  w^omen,  and  for  the  blazing  fire,  thee 
might  greatly  confound  and  harmfully  vanquish 
the  evil  creatures,  there  placed  so  unluckily  on 
the  bank,  in  the  way  and  manner  w^hich  thee 
thinks  of.  But,  friend,  thee  plan  will  not  do:  thee 
might  pass  unheard  indeed,  but  not  unseen.  Does 
thee  not  see  how  brightly  the  fire  blazes  on  the 
water  ?  Truly,  we  should  all  be  seen  and  fired  at, 
before  we  reached  the  middle  of  the  stream;  and, 
truly,  I  should  not  be  surprised  if  the  gleam  of  the 
fire  on  the  pale  faces  of  thee  poor  women  should 
bring  a  shot  upon  us  where  w^e  stand;  and, 
therefore,  friend,  the  sooner  we  get  us  out  of  the 
way,  the  better." 

"  And  where  shall  we  betake  us  ?"  demanded 
Roland,  the  sternness  of  w^hose  accents  but  ill 
disguised  the  gloom  and  hopelessness  of  his  feel- 
ings. 

"  To  a  place  of  safety  and  of  rest,"  replied  the 
guide,  "  and  to  one  that  is  nigh  at  hand  ;  where 
we  may  lodge  us,  with  little  fear  of  Injuns,  until 
such  time  as  the  waters  shall  abate  a  Httle,  or  the 
stars  give  us  light  to  cross  them  at  a  place  where 
are  no  evil  Shawnees  to  oppose  us.  And  then, 
friend,  as  to  slipping  by  these  foolish  creatures 
who  make  such  bright  fires  on  the  public  high- 


172  IfICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

way,  truly,  with  little  Peter's  assistance,  we  can 
do  it  with  great  ease." 

"  Let  us  not  delay,"  said  Roland  ;  and  added 
sullenly,  "though  where  a  place  of  rest  and  safety 
can  be  found  in  these  detestable  woods,  I  can  n.o 
lons^er  imamnc." 

"  It  is  a  place  of  rest,  at  least,  for  the  deady" 
said  Nathan,  in  a  low  voice,  at  the  same  time 
leading  the  party  back  again  up  the  bank,  and 
taking  care  to  shelter  them  as  he  ascended,  as 
much  as  possible  from  the  light  of  the  fire,  which 
was  now  blazing  with  great  brilliancy:  "nine 
human  corses, — father  and  mother,  grandam  and 
children, — sleep  under  the  threshold  at  the  door; 
and  there  are  not  many,  white  men  or  Injuns,  that 
will,  of  their  free  will,  step  over  the  bosoms  of 
the  poor  murdered  creatures,  after  nightfall ;  and, 
the  more  especially,  because  there  are  them  that 
believe  they  rise  at  midnight,  and  roam  round  the 
house  and  the  clearings,  mourning.  Yet  it  is  a 
good  hiding-place  for  them  that  are  in  trouble ; 
and  many  a  night  have  little  Peter  and  I  sheltered 
ys  beneath  the  ruined  roof,  with  little  fear  of  either 
ghosts  or  Injuns;  though,  truly,  we  have  some- 
times heard  strange  and  mournful  noises  among 
the  trees  around  us.  It  is  but  a  poor  place  and  a 
sad  one  ;  but  it  will  afford  thee  weary  women  a 
safe  resting-place  till  such  time  as  we  can  cross 
the  river."^ 

These  words  of  Nathan  brought  to  Roland's 
recollection  the  story  of  the  Ashburns,  whom 
Bruce  had  alluded  to,  as  having  been  all  destroy- 
ed at  their  Station  in  a  single  night  by  the  Indians, 
and  whose  tragical  fate,  perhaps,  more  than  any 
other  circumstance,  had  diverted  the  course  of 
travel   from  the   ford,  near   to  which  they  had 


MCK  OF  THE  WOODS.  173 

seated  themselves,  to  the  upper,  and,  originally, 
less  frequented  one. 

It  was  not  without  reluctance  that  Roland  pre- 
pared to  lead  his  little  party  to  this  scene  of  butch- 
ery and  sorrow  ;  for,  though  little  inclined  himself 
to  superstitious  feelings  of  any  kind,  he  could 
easily  imagine  w^hat  would  be  the  effect  of  such 
a  scene,  with  its  gloomy  and  blood-stained  associa- 
tions, on  the  harassed  mind  of  his  cousin.  But 
suffering  and  terror,  even  on  the  part  of  Edith, 
were  not  to  be  thought  of,  where  they  could  pur- 
chase escape  from  evils  far  more  real  and  appall- 
ing;  and  he  therefore  avoided  all  remonstrance 
and  opposition,  and  even  sought  to  hasten  the 
steps  of  his  conductor  towards  the  ruined  and 
solitary  pile. 

The  bank  was  soon  re-ascended;  and  the  party, 
stealing  along  in  silence,  presently  took  their  last 
view  of  the  ford,  and  the  yet  blazing  fire  that 
had  warned  them  so  opportunely  from  its  danger- 
ous vicinity.  In  another  moment  they  had  crept  a 
second  time  into  the  forest,  though  in  the  opposite 
quarter  from  that  whence  they  had  come;  making 
their  w^ay  through  what  had  once  been  a  broad 
path,  evidently  cut  by  the  hands  of  man,  through 
a  thick  cane-brake,  though  long  disused,  and  now 
almost  choked  by  brambles  and  shrubs;  and,  by 
and  by,  having  followed  it  for  somewhat  less  than 
half  a  mile,  they  found  themselves  on  a  kind  of 
clearing,  which,  it  was  equally  manifest,  had  been 
once  a  cultivated  field  of  several  acres  in  extent. 
Throughout  the  whole  of  this  space,  the  trunks  of 
the  old  forest-trees,  dimly  seen  in  the  light  of  a 
clouded  sky,  w^ere  yet  standing,  but  entirely  leaf- 
less and  dead,  and  presenting  such  an  aspect  of 
desolation  as  is  painful  to  the  mind,  even  when 
sunshine,  and  the  flourishing  maize  at  their  roots, 
15* 


174  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS, 

invest  them  with  a  milder  and  more  cheerful  cha- 
racter. Such  prospects  are  common  enough  in 
all  new  American  clearings,  where  the  husband- 
man is  content  to  deprive  the  trees  of  life,  by 
girdling,  and  then  leave  them  to  the  assaults  of 
the  elements  and  the  natural  course  of  decay ;  and 
where  a  thousand  trunks,  of  the  gigantic  growth 
of  the  West,  are  thus  seen  rising  together  in  the 
air,  naked  and  hoary  with  age,  they  impress  the 
imagination  with  such  gloom  as  is  engendered  by 
the  sight  of  ruined  colonnades. 

Such  was  the  case  with  the  present  prospect ; 
years  had  passed  since  the  axe  had  sapped 
the  strength  of  the  mighty  oaks  and  beeches; 
bough  after  bough,  and  limb  after  hmb,  had  fallen 
to  the  earth,  with  here  and  there  some  huge  trunk 
itself,  overthrown  by  the  blast,  and  now  rotting 
among  weeds  on  the  soil  which  it  cumbered.  At 
the  present  hour,  the  spectacle  was  peculiarly 
mournful  and  dreary.  The  deep  solitude  of  the 
spot, — the  hour  itself, — the  gloomy  aspect  of  the 
sky  veiled  in  clouds, — the  occasional  rush  of  the 
wind  sweeping  like  a  tempest  through  the  woods, 
lobe  succeeded  by  a  dead  and  dismal  calm, — the 
roll  of  distant  thunder  reverberating  among  the 
hills, — but,  more  than  all,  the  remembrance  of  the 
tragical  event  that  had  consigned  the  ill-fated  set- 
tlement to  neglect  and  desolation,  gave  the  deep- 
est character  of  gloom  to  the  scene. 

As  the  travellers  entered  upon  the  clearing, 
there  occurred  one  of  those  casualties  which  so 
often  increase  the  awe  of  the  looker-on,  in  such 
places.  In  one  of  the  deepest  lulls  and  hushes  of 
the  wind,  when  there  was  no  apparent  cause  in 
operation  to  produce  such  an  effect,  a  tall  and 
majestic  trunk  was  seen  to  decline  from  the  per- 
pendicular, topple  slowly  through  the  air,  and  then 


XICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  175 

fall  to  the  earth  with  a  crash  like  the  shock  of  an 
earthquake. 

The  poet  and  the  moralizing  philosopher  mar 
find  food  for  contemplation  in  such  a  scene,  and 
such  a  catastrophe.  He  may  see,  in  the  lofty  and 
decaying  trunks,  the  hoary  relics  and  representa- 
tives of  a  genei'ation  of  better  and  greater  spirits 
than  those  who  lead  the  destinies  of  his  own, — 
spirits,  left  not  more  as  monuments  of  the  past 
than  as  models  for  the  imitation  of  the  present ; 
he  may  contrast  their  majestic  serenity  and  rest, 
their  silence  and  immoveableness,  with  the  tur- 
moil of  the  greener  growth  around,  the  uproar 
and  collision  produced  by  every  gust,  and  trace 
the  resemblance  to  the  scene  where  the  storms  of 
party,  rising  among  the  sons,  hurtle  so  indecently 
around  the  gray  fathers  of  a  republic,  whose  pre- 
sence should  stay  them  ;  and,  finally,  he  may  be- 
hold in  the  trunks,  as  they  yield  at  last  to  decay, 
and  sink  one  by  one  to  the  earth,  the  fall  of  each 
aged  parent  of  his  country, — a  fall,  indeed,  as  of 
an  oak  of  a  thousand  generations,  shocking  the 
earth  around,  and  producing  for  a  moment,  w^on- 
der,  awe,  grief,  and  then  a  long  forgetfulness. 

But  men  in  the  situation  of  the  travellers  have 
neither  time  nor  inclination  for  moralizing.  The 
fall  of  the  tree  only  served  to  alarm  the  weaker 
members  of  the  party,  to  some  of  whom,  perhaps, 
it  appeared  as  an  inauspicious  omen.  Apparently, 
however,  it  woke  certain  mournful  recollections  in 
the  brains  of  both  little  Peter  and  his  master,  the 
former  of  whom,  as  he  passed  it  by,  began  to 
snuffle  and  whine  in  a  low  and  pecuHar  manner; 
while  Nathan  immediately  responded,  as  if  in  re- 
ply to  his  counsellor's  address,  "  Ay,  truly,  Peter  ! 
— thee  has  a  good  memory  of  the  matter ;  though 
five  long  years  is  a  marvellous  time  for  thee  little 


176  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

noddle  to  hold  things.  It  was  under  this  very  tree 
they  murdered  the  poor  old  granny,  and  brained 
the  innocent,  helpless  babe.  Of  a  truth,  it  was  a 
sight  that  made  my  heart  sick  within  me." 

"  What!"  asked  Roland,  who  followed  close  at 
his  heels,  and  overheard  the  half-soliloquized  ex- 
pressions; "were  you  present  at  the  massacre?" 

"  Alas,  friend,"  replied  Nathan,  "  it  was  neither 
the  first  nor  last  massacre  that  I  have  seen  with 
these  eyes.  I  dwelt,  in  them  days,  in  a  cabin  a 
little  distance  down  the  river;  and  these  poor  peo- 
ple, the  Ashburns,  were  my  near  neighbours; 
though,  truly,  they  were  not  to  me  as  neighbours 
should  be,  but  held  me  in  disfavour,  because  of 
my  faith,  and  ever  repelled  me  from  their  doors 
with  scorn  and  ill-will.  Yet  was  I  sorry  for  them, 
because  of  the  little  children  they  had  in  the 
liouse,  the  same  being  afar  from  succour;  and 
when  I  found  the  tracks  of  the  Injun  party  in  the 
wood,  as  it  was  often  my  fate  to  do,  while  ram- 
bling in  search  of  food,  and  saw  that  they  were 
bending  their  way  towards  my  own  little  wig- 
w-am,  I  said  to  myself,  '  Whilst  they  are  burning 
the  same,  I  will  get  me  to  friend  Ashburn,  that  he 
may  be  warned  and  escape  to  friend  Bruce's  Sta- 
tion in  time,  with  his  people  and  cattle.'  But,  veri- 
ly, they  held  my  story  light,  and  laughed  at  and 
derided  me ;  for,  in  them  days,  the  people  hard- 
ened their  hearts  and  closed  their  ears  against 
me,  because  I  held  it  not  according  to  conscience 
to  kill  Injuns  as  they  did,  and  so  refused.  And  so, 
friend,  they  drove  me  from  their  doors;  seeing 
which,  and  perceiving  the  poor  creatures  were  in 
a  manner  besotted,  and  bent  upon  their  own  de- 
struction, and  the  night  coming  on  fast,  I  turned 
my  steps  and  ran  with  what  speed  I  could  to 
friend  Bruce's,  telhng  him  the  whole  story,  and 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  177 

advising  that  he  should  despatch  a  strong  body  of 
horsemen  to  the  place,  so  as  to  frighten  the  evil 
creatures  away ;  for,  truly,  I  did  not  hold  it  right 
that  there  should  be  bloodshed.  But,  truly  and 
alas,  friend,  I  fared  no  better,  and  perhaps  a  little 
worse,  at  the  Station  than  I  had  fared  before  at 
Ashburn's;  wherefore,  being  left  in  despair,  I  said 
to  myself,  I  will  go  into  the  w^oods,  and  hide  me 
away,  not  returning  to  the  river,  lest  I  should  be 
compelled  to  look  upon  the  shedding  of  the  blood 
of  the  women  and  little  babes,  which  I  had  no 
power  to  prevent.  But  it  came  into  my  mind, 
that,  perhaps,  the  Injuns,  not  finding  me  in  my 
wigwam,  might  lie  in  wait  round  about  it,  expect- 
ing my  return,  and  so  delaying  the  attack  upon 
friend  Ashburn's  house ;  whereby  I  might  have 
time  to  reach  him,  and  warn  him  of  his  danger 
again ;  and  this  idea  prevailed  with  me,  so  that  I  rose 
me  up  again,  and,  with  little  Peter  at  my  side,  I 
ran  back  again,  until  I  had  reached  this  very  field; 
when  Peter  gave  me  to  know  the  Injuns  w^ere 
hard  by.  Thee  don't  know  little  Peter,  friend  ; 
truly,  he  has  the  strongest  nose  for  an  Injun  thee 
ever  saw.  Does  thee  not  hear  how  he  whines  and 
snuffs  along  the  grass?  Now,  friend,  were  it  not 
that  this  is  a  bloody  spot  that  Peter  remembers 
well,  because  of  the  wdcked  deeds  he  saw  per- 
formed, I  w^ould  know  by  his  whining,  as  truly  as 
if  he  were  to  open  his  mouth  and  say  as  much  in 
words,  that  there  were  evil  Injuns  nigh  at  hand, 
and  that  it  behooved  me  to  be  up  and  a-doing. — 
Well,  friend,  as  I  was  saying, — it  was  with  such 
words  as  these  that  little  Peter  told  me  that  mis- 
chief was  nigh ;  and,  truly,  I  had  scarce  time  to 
hide  me  in  the  corn,  which  was  then  in  the  ear, 
before  I  heard  the  direful  yells  with  which  the 
blood-thirsty  creatures,  who  were  then  round  about 


178  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

the  house,  woke  up  its  frighted  inmates.  Verily, 
friend,  I  will  not  shock  thee  by  telling  thee  what  I 
heard  and  saw.  There  was  a  fate  on  the  family, 
and  even  on  the  animals  that  looked  to  it  for  pi'O- 
tection.  Neither  horse  nor  cow  gave  them  the 
alarm ;  and  even  the  house-dog  slept  so  soundly, 
that  the  enemies  dragged  loose  brush  into  the  porch 
and  fired  it,  before  any  one  but  themselves  dream- 
ed of  danger.  It  was  when  the  flames  burst  out 
that  the  w-arwhoop  was  sounded ;  and  when  the 
eyes  of  the  sleepers  opened,  it  was  only  to  see 
themselves  surrounded  both  by  flames  and  raging 
Shawnees.  Then,  friend,"  continued  Nathan, 
speaking  with  a  faltering  and  low  voice,  graduated 
for  the  ears  of  Roland,  for  whom  alone  the  story 
was  intended,  though  others  caught  here  and  there 
some  of  its  dismal  revealments,  "  then,  thee  may 
think,  there  was  rushing  out  of  men,  women,  and 
children,  with  the  cracking  of  rifles,  the  crashing 
of  hatchets,  the  plunge  of  knives,  with  yells  and 
shrieks  such  as  would  turn  thee  spirit  into  ice  and 
water,  to  hear.  It  was  a  fearful  massacre ;  but, 
friend,  fearful  as  it  was,  these  eyes  of  mine  had 
looked  on  one  more  dreadful  before :  thee  would 
not  believe  it,  friend,  but  thee  knows  not  what 
them  see,  who  have  spent  their  lives  on  the  Injun 
border. — Well,  friend,"  continued  the  narrator, 
after  this  brief  digression,  "  while  they  were  mur- 
dering the  stronger,  I  saw  the  weakest  of  all, — 
the  old  grandam,  with  the  youngest  babe  in  her 
arms,  come  flying  into  the  corn;  and  she  had 
reached  this  very  tree  that  has  fallen  but  now,  as 
if  to  remind  me  of  the  story,  when  the  pursuer, — 
for  it  was  but  a  single  man  they  sent  in  chase  of 
the  poor  feeble  old  woman,  caught  up  with  her, 
and  struck  her  down  with  his  tomahawk.  Then, 
friend, — for,  truly,  I  saw  it  all  in  the  light  of  the 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  179 

fire,  being  scarce  two  rods  off, — he  snatched  the 
poor  babe  from  the  dying  woman's  arms,  and 
struck  it  with  the  same  bloody  hatchet. " 

"  And  you !"  exclaimed  Roland,  leaning  from 
his  horse  and  clutchhig  the  speaker  by  the  collar, 
for  he  was  seized  with  ungovernable  indignation, 
or  rather  fury,  at  what  he  esteemed  the  cold- 
blooded cowardice  of  Nathan,  "  You!"  he  cried, 
grasping  him  as  if  he  would  have  torn  him  to 
pieces,  "  You,  wretch !  stood  by  and  saw  the 
child  murdered!" 

"  Friend  !"  said  Nathan,  with  some  surprise  at 
the  unexpected  assault,  but  still  with  great  sub- 
missiveness,  "  thee  is  as  unjust  to  me  as  others. 
Had  I  been  as  free  to  shed  blood  as  thee  theeself, 
yet  could  I  not  have  saved  the  babe  in  that  way, 
seeing  that  my  gun  was  taken  from  me,  and  I  was 
unarmed.  Thee  forgets, — or  rather  I  forgot  to 
inform  thee, — how,  when  I  told  friend  Bruce  my 
story,  he  took  my  gun  from  me,  saying  that  *  as  I 
was  not  man  enough  to  use  it,  I  should  not  be  al- 
lowed to  carry  it,'  and  so  turned  me  out  naked 
from  the  fort.  Truly,  it  was  an  ill  thing  of  him 
to  take  from  me  that  which  gave  me  my  meat  ; 
and,  truly  too,  it  was  doubly  ill  of  him,  as  it  con- 
cerned the  child ;  for  I  tell  thee,  friend,  when  I 
stood  in  the  corn  and  saw  the  great  brutal  Injun 
raise  the  hatchet  to  strike  the  little  child,  had 
there  been  a  gun  in  my  hand,  I  should — I  can't 
tell  thee,  friend,  what  I  might  have  done ;  but, 
truly,  I  should  not  have  permitted  the  evil  crea- 
ture to  do  the  bloody  deed!" 

"  I  thought  so,  by  heaven  !"  said  Roland,  who 
had  relaxed  his  grasp,  the  moment  Nathan  men- 
tioned the  seizure  of  the  gun,  which  story  was  cor- 
roborated by  the  account  Bruce  had  himself 
given  of  that   stretch  of  authority, — "  I  thought 


180  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

SO :  no  human  creature,  not  an  Indian,  unless  the 
veriest  dastard  and  dog  that  ever  hved,  could  have 
had  arms  in  his  hand,  and,  on  such  an  occasion, 
failed  to  use  them !  But  you  had  humanity, — 
you  did  something  ?" 

''  Friend,"  said  Nathan,  meekly,  "I  did  what  I 
could, — but,  truly,  what  could  I '(  Nevertheless, 
friend,  I  did,  being  set  beside  myself  by  the  sight, 
snatch  the  little  babe  out  of  the  man's  hands,  and 
fly  to  the  woods,  hoping,  though  it  was  sore 
wounded,  that  it  might  yet  live.  But  alas,  before 
I  had  run  a  mile,  it  died  in  my  arms,  and  I  was 
covered  from  head  to  foot  with  its  blood.  It  was 
a  sore  sight  for  friend  Bruce,  whom  I  found  with 
his  people  galloping  to  the  ford,  to  see  what  there 
might  be  in  my  story  :  for,  it  seems,  as  he  told  me 
himself,  that,  after  he  had  driven  me  away,  he 
could  not  sleep  for  thinking  that  perhaps  I  had 
told  the  truth.  And  truth  enough,  he  soon  found, 
I  had  spoken;  for,  galloping  immediately  to  Ash- 
burn's  house,  he  found  nothing  tliere  but  the  corses 
of  the  people,  and  the  house  partly  consumed, — 
for,  being  of  green  timber,  it  could  not  all  burn. 
There  was  not  one  of  the  poor  family  that  es- 
caped." 

"  But  they  were  avenged  ?"  muttered  the  sol- 
dier. 

"  If  thee  calls  killing  the  killers  avenging,"  replied 
Nathan,  "  the  poor  deceased  people  had  vengeance 
enough.  Of  the  fourteen  murderers,  for  that  was 
the  number,  eleven  were  killed  before  day-dawn, 
the  pursuers  having  discovered  where  they  had 
built  their  fire,  and  so  taken  them  by  surprise  ; 
and  of  the  three  that  escaped,  it  was  afterwards 
said  by  returning  captives,  that  only  one  made  his 
way  home,  the  other  two  having  perished  in  the 
woods,  in  some  way  unknown. — But,  truly,"  con- 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  181 

tinued  Nathan,  suddenly  diverting  his  attention 
from  the  tragic  theme  to  the  motions  of  his  dog, 
"  Httle  Peter  is  more  disturbed  than  is  his  wont. 
Truly,  he  has  never  had  a  liking  to  the  spot:  I 
have  heard  them  that  said  a  dog  could  scent  the 
presence  of  spirits !" 

"  To  my  mind,"  said  Roland,  who  had  not  for- 
gotten Nathan's  eulogium  on  the  excellence  of  the 
animal's  nose  for  scenting  Indians,  and  who  was 
somewhat  alarmed  at  what  appeared  to  him  the 
evident  uneasiness  of  little  Peter,  "  he  is  more  like 
to  wind  another  party  of  cursed  Shaw^nees,  than 
any  harmless  disembodied  spirits." 

"  Friend,"  said  Nathan,  "  it  may  be  that  Injuns 
have  trodden  upon  this  field  this  day,  seeing  that 
the  wood  is  full  of  them;  and  it  is  like  enough  that 
those  very  evil  creatures  at  the  ford  hard-by  have 
stolen  hither,  before  taking  their  post,  to  glut  their 
eyes  with  the  sight  of  the  ruins,  where  the  blood 
of  nine  poor  white  persons  was  shed  by  their 
brothers  in  a  single  night ;  though,  truly,  in  that 
case,  they  must  have  also  thought  of  the  thirteen 
murderers  that  bled  for  the  victims  ;  which  would 
prove  somewhat  a  drawback  to  their  satisfaction. 
No,  friend  :  Peter  has  his  likes  and  his  dislikes, 
like  a  human  being;  and  this  is  a  spot  he  ever 
approaches  with  abhorrence, — as,  truly,  I  do  my- 
self, never  coming  hither,  unless  when  driven,  as 
now,  by  necessity.  But,  friend,  if  thee  is  in  fear, 
thee  shall  be  satisfied  there  is  no  danger  before 
thee:  it  shall  never  be  said  that  I  undertook  to 
lead  thee  poor  women  out  of  mischief,  only  to 
plunge  them  into  peril.  I  will  go  before  thee  to 
the  ruin,  which  thee  sees  there  by  the  hollow,  and 
reconnoitre." 

"  It  needs  not,"  said  Roland,  who  now  seeing 

VOL.  I. — 16 


182  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

the  cabin  of  which  they  were  in  search  close  at 
hand,  and  perceiving  that  Peter's  uneasiness  had 
subsided,  dismissed  his  own  as  being  groundless. 
But  notwithstanding,  he  thouglit  proper,  as  Na- 
than advanced,  to  ride  forward  himself,  and  in- 
spect the  condition  of  the  building,  in  which  he 
w^as  about  to  commit  the  safety  of  the  being  he 
held  most  dear,  and  on  whose  account,  only,  he 
felt  the  thousand  anxieties  and  terrors  he  never 
could  have  otherwise  experienced. 

The  building  was  a  low  cabin  of  logs,  standing, 
as  it  seemed,  on  the  verge  of  an  abyss,  in  which 
the  river  could  be  heard  dashing  tumultuously,  as 
if  among  rocks  and  other  obstructions.  It  was 
one  of  those  double  cabins  so  frequently  found  in 
the  west ;  that  is  to  say,  it  consisted  of  two  sepa- 
rate cots,  or  wings,  standing  a  little  distance  apart, 
but  united  by  a  common  roof;  which  thus  afforded 
shelter  to  the  open  hall,  or  passage,  between  them ; 
while  the  roof  being  continued  also  from  the 
eaves,  both  before  and  behind,  in  pent-house- 
fashion,  it  allowed  space  for  wide  porches,  in 
which,  and  in  the  open  passage,  the  summer  tra- 
veller, resting  in  such  a  cabin,  will  always  find 
the  most  agreeable  quarters. 

How  little  soever  of  common  wisdom  and  dis- 
cretion the  fate  of  the  builders  might  have  shown 
them  to  possess,  they  had  not  forgotten  to  provide 
their  solitary  dwelling  with  such  defences  as  were 
common  to  all  others  in  the  land  at  that  period. 
A  line  of  palisades,  carelessly  and  feebly  construct- 
ed indeed,  but  perhaps  sufficient  for  the  purpose 
intended,  enclosed  the  ground  on  which  the  cabin 
stood;  and  this  being  placed  directly  in  the  centre, 
and  joining  it  at  the  sides,  thus  divided  it  into  two 
little  yards,  one  in  front  the  other  in  the  rear,  in 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  183 

which  was  space  sufficient  for  horses  and  cattle, 
as  well  as  for  the  garrison,  when  called  to  repel 
assailants.  The  enclosure  behind  extended  to 
the  verge  of  the  river-bank,  which,  falling  down 
a  sheer  precipice  of  forty  or  fifty  feet,  required 
no  defence  of  stakes,  and  seemed  never  to  have 
been  provided  with  them ;  while  that  in  front  cir- 
cumscribed a  portion  of  a  cleared  field  entirely 
destitute  of  trees,  and  almost  of  bushes. 

Such  had  been  the  original  plan  and  condition 
of  a  fortified  private-dwelHng,  a  favourable  speci- 
men, perhaps,  of  the  family-forts  of  the  day,  and 
which,  manned  by  five  or  six  active  and  coura- 
geous defenders,  might  have  bidden  defiance  to 
thrice  the  number  of  barbarians  that  had  actually 
succeeded  in  storming  it.  Its  present  appearance 
was  ruinous  and  melancholy  in  the  extreme.  The 
stockade  was  in  great  part  destroyed,  especially 
in  front,  where  the  stakes  seemed  to  have  been 
rooted  up  by  the  winds,  or  to  have  fallen  from 
sheer  decay :  and  the  right  wing  or  cot,  that 
had  sufiered  most  from  the  flames,  lay  a  black- 
ened and  mouldering  pile  of  logs,  confusedly 
heaped  on  its  floor,  or  on  the  earth  beneath.  The 
only  part  of  the  building  yet  standing  was  the 
cot  on  the  left  hand,  which  consisted  of  but  a 
single  room,  and  that,  as  Roland  perceived  at  a 
glance,  almost  roofless  and  ready  to  fall. 

Nothing  could  be  more  truly  cheerless  and  for- 
bidding than  the  appearance  of  the  ruined  pile; 
and  the  hoarse  and  dismal  rush  of  the  river  be- 
low, heard  the  more  readily  by  reason  of  a  deep 
rocky  fissure,  or  ravine,  running  from  the  rear 
yard  to  the  water's  edge,  through  which  the 
sound  ascended  in  hollow  echoes,  added  double 
horror  to  its  appearance.     It  was,  moreover,  ob- 


184  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

viously  insecure  and  untenable  against  any  reso- 
lute enemy,  to  whom  the  ruins  of  the  fallen  wing 
and  stockade  and  the  rugged  depths  of  the  ra- 
vine oftered  much  more  effectual  shelter,  as  well 
as  the  best  place  of  annoyance.  The  repug- 
nance, however,  that  Roland  felt  to  occupy  it 
even  for  a  few  hours,  was  combatted  by  Na- 
than, who  represented  that  the  ford  at  which 
he  designed  crossing  the  river,  several  miles 
farther  down,  could  not  be  safely  attempted  until 
the  rise  of  the  waning  moon,  or  until  the  clouds 
should  disperse,  affording  them  the  benefit  of  the 
dim  star-light;  that  the  road  to  it  ran  through 
swamps  and  hollows,  now  submerged,  in  which 
could  be  found  no  place  of  rest  for  the  females, 
exhausted  by  fatigue  and  mental  suffering;  and 
that  the  ruin  might  be  made  as  secure  as  the  Sta- 
tion the  travellers  had  left;  "for  truly,"  said  he, 
"it  is  not  according  to  my  ways  or  conscience  to 
leave  any  thing  to  chance  or  good  luck,  when 
there  is  Injun  scent  in  the  forest,  though  it  be 
in  the  forest  ten  miles  off.  Truly,  friend,  I  de- 
sign, when  thee  poor  tired  women  is  sleeping,  to 
keep  watch  round  the  ruin,  with  Peter  to  help 
me;  and  if  theeself  and  thee  two  male  persons 
have  strength  to  do  the  same,  it  will  be  all  the 
better  for  the  same." 

"  It  shall  be  done,"  said  Roland,  as  much  re- 
lieved by  the  suggestion  as  he  was  pleased  by  the 
humane  spirit  that  prompted  it :  "  my  two  soldiers 
can  watch,  if  they  cannot  fight,  and  I  shall  take 
care  they  watch  well." 

Thus  composing  the  difficulty,  preparations 
were  immediately  made  to  occupy  the  ruin,  into 
which  Roland,  having  previously  entered  with 
Emperor,  and  struck  a  light,  introduced  his  weary 
kinswoman  with  her  companion  Telle ;  while  Na- 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  185 

than  and  Pardon  Dodge  led  the  horses  into  the 
ravine,  where  they  could  be  easily  confined,  and 
allowed  to  browse  and  drink  at  will,  being  at  the 
same  time  beyond  the  reach  of  observation  from 
any  foe  that  might  be  yet  prowling  through  the 
forest. 


16^ 


186  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


The  light  struck  by  the  negro  was  soon  suc- 
ceeded by  a  fire,  for  which  ample  materials  lay 
ready  at  hand  among  the  ruins ;  and  as  it  blazed 
up  from  the  broken  and  long  deserted  hearth,  the 
travellers  could  better  view  the  dismal  aspect  of 
the  cabin.  It  consisted,  as  has  been  mentioned,  of 
but  a  single  remaining  apartment,  with  walls  of 
logs,  from  whose  chinks  the  clay,  with  which  they 
had  been  originally  plastered,  had  long  since  van- 
ished, with  here  and  there  a  fragment  of  a  log 
itself,  leaving  a  thousand  gaps  for  the  admission 
of  wind  and  rain.  The  ceiling  of  poles  (for  it  had 
once  possessed  a  kind  of  garret)  had  fallen  down 
under  the  weight  of  the  rotting  roof,  of  which  but 
a  small  portion  remained,  and  that  in  the  craziest 
condition ;  and  the  floor  of  punc/ieoris,  or  planks 
of  split  logs,  was  in  a  state  of  equal  dilapidation, 
more  than  half  of  it  having  rotted  away,  and 
mingled  with  the  earth  on  which  it  reposed. 
Doors  and  windows  there  were  none;  but  two 
mouldering  gaps  in  the  front  and  the  rear  walls, 
and  another  of  greater  magnitude  opening  from 
the  side  into  what  had  once  been  the  hall  or  pas- 
sage, (though  now  a  platform  heaped  with  frag- 
ments of  charred  timber,)  showed  where  the  nar- 
row entrance  and  loop-hole  windows  had  once 
existed.  The  former  was  without  leaf  or  defence 
of  any  kind,  unless  such  might  have  been  found 
in  three  or  four  logs  standing  against  the  wall  hard 


NICK  OF.  THE  WOODS.  1  87 

by,  whence  they  could  be  easily  removed  and 
piled  against  the  opening ;  for  which  purpose,  Ro- 
land did  not  doubt  they  had  been  used,  and  by 
the  houseless  Nathan  himself.  But  a  better  pro- 
tection was  offered  by  the  ruins  of  the  other  apart- 
ment, which  had  fallen  down  in  such  a  way  as 
almost  to  block  up  the  door,  leaving  a  passage  in 
and  out,  only  towards  the  rear  of  the  building  ; 
and,  in  case  of  sudden  attack  and  seizure  of  this 
sole  entrance,  there  were  several  gaps  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  wall,  through  one  of  which,  in  particu- 
lar, it  would  be  easy  enough  to  effect  a  retreat. 
At  this  place,  the  floor  was  entirely  wanting,  and 
the  earth  below  washed  into  a  gully  communicat- 
ing with  the  rocky  ravine,  of  which  it  might  be 
considered  the  head. 

But  the  looks  of  the  soldier  did  not  dwell  long 
upon  the  dreary  spectacle  of  ruin ;  they  were 
soon  cast  upon  the  countenance  of  Edith,  con- 
cealed so  long  by  darkness.  It  was  even  wanner 
and  paler  than  he  feared  to  find  it,  and  her  eye 
shone  with  an  unnatural  lustre,  as  it  met  his  own. 
She  extended  her  hands  and  placed  them  in  his, 
gazed  upon  him  piercingly,  but  without  speaking, 
or  indeed  seeming  able  to  utter,  a  single  word. 

"  Be  of  good  heart,"  he  said,  replying  to  the 
look  of  inquiry ;  "  we  are  unfortunate,  Edith,  but 
we  are  safe." 

"  Thank  Heaven !"  she  exclaimed,  but  more 
wildly  than  fervently:  "I  have  been  looking  every 
moment  to  see  you  shot  dead  at  my  feet !  Would 
I  had  died,  Roland,  my  brother,  before  I  brought 

you  to  this  fatal  land But  I  distress  you!  Well, 

I  will  not  be  frightened  more.  But  is  not  this  an 
adventure  for  a  woman  that  never  before  looked 
upon  a  cut  finger  without  fainting?  Truly,  Ro- 
land,— '  truly,'   as  friend  Nathan  says, — it  is  as 


188  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

ridiculous  as  frightful :  and  then  this  cabin,  where 
they  killed  so  many  poor  wonaen  and  children, — 
is  it  not  a  ridiculous  lodging  place  for  Edith  For- 
rester? a  canopy  of  clouds,  a  couch  of  clay,  with 
owls  and  snakes  for  my  bed-fellows — truly,  truly, 
truly,  it  is  very  ridiculous !" 

It  seemed,  for  a  moment,  as  if  the  maiden's  ef- 
fort to  exchange  her  melancholy  and  terror  for  a 
more  joyous  feeling,  would  harve  resulted  in  pro- 
ducing even  greater  agitation  than  before ;  but 
the  soothing  words  of  Roland,  and  the  encourag- 
ing countenance  maintained  by  Telle  Doe,  who 
seemed  little  affected  by  their  forlorn  situation, 
gradually  tranquilHzed  her  mind,  and  enabled  her 
the  better  to  preserve  the  air  of  levity  and  mirth- 
fulness,  which  she  so  vainly  attempted  at  first  to 
assume.  This  moment  of  calm  Roland  took  ad- 
vantage of  to  apprise  her  of  the  necessity  of  re- 
cruiting her  spirits  with  a  few  hours'  sleep;  for 
which  purpose  he  began  to  look  about  him  for 
some  suitable  place  in  which  to  strew  her  a  bed 
of  fern  and  leaves. 

"  Why,  here  is  one  strewn  for  me  already,"  she 
cried,  with  an  affected  laugh,  pointing  to  a  corner, 
in  which  lay  a  mass  of  leaves  so  green  and  fresh 
that  they  looked  as  if  plucked  but  a  day  or  two 
before ;  "  truly,  Nathan  has  not  invited  me  to  his 
hiding-place  to  lodge  me  meanly ;  (Heaven  for- 
give me  for  laughing  at  the  poor  man;  for  w^e 
owe  him  our  lives !)  nay,  nor  to  send  me  supper- 
less  to  bed.  See  !"  she  added,  pointing  to  a  small 
brazen  kettle,  which  her  quick  eye  detected  among 
the  leaves,  and  which  was  soon  followed  by  a 
second  that  Emperor  stirred  up  from  its  conceal- 
onent,  and  both  of  them,  as  was  soon  perceived, 
still  retaining  the  odour  of  a  recent  savoury  stew : 
'<  Look  well.  Emperor :  where  the  kitchen  is,  the 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  189 

larder  cannot  be  far  distant.  I  warrant  me  we 
shall  find  that  Nathan  has  provided  us  a  good 
supper." 

"  Such,  perhaps,  as  a  woodman  only  can  eat," 
said  Roland,  who,  somewhat  surprised  at  the  su- 
perfluous number  of  Nathan's  valuables,  (for  to 
Nathan,  he  doubted  not,  they  belonged,)  had  be- 
gun stirring  the  leaves,  and  succeeded  in  raking 
up  with  his  rifle,  which  he  had  not  laid  aside,  a 
little  earthen  pouch,  well  stored  with  parched 
corn:  "A  strange  fellow,  this  Nathan,"  he  mut- 
tered :  "  he  really  spoke  as  if  he  had  not  visited 
the  ruin  for  a  considerable  period ;  whereas  it  is 
evident  he  must  have  slept  here  last  night.  But  he 
seems  to  affect  mystery  in  all  that  concerns  his 
own  private  movements — It  is  the  character  of 
his  persuasion." 

While  Roland  with  the  females,  was  thus  lay- 
ing hands,  and  speculating,  upon  the  supposed 
chattels  of  their  conductor,  Nathan  himself  enter- 
ed the  apartment,  betraying  some  degree  of  agita- 
tion in  his  countenance  ;  whilst  the  faithful  Peter, 
who  followed  at  his  side,  manifested  equal  uneasi- 
ness, by  snuffing  the  air,  whining,  and  rubbing 
himself  frequently  against  his  master's  legs. 

"  Friends,"  he  cried,  abruptly,  "  Peter  talks  too 
plainly  to  be  mistaken :  there  is  mischief  nigh  at 
hand,  though  where,  or  how  it  can  be,  sinner  and 
weak  foolish  man  that  I  am,  I  know  not:  we  must 
leave  warm  fires  and  soft  beds,  and  take  refuge 
again  in  the  woods." 

This  unexpected  announcement  again  banished 
the  blood  from  Edith's  cheeks.  She  had,  on  his 
entrance,  caught  the  pouch  of  corn  from  Roland's 
hands,  intending  to  present  it  to  the  guide,  with 
some  such  light  expressions  as  should  convince 
her  kinsman   of   her   recovered   spirits;  but  the 


190  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

visage  and  words  of  Nathan  struck  her  dumb, 
and  she  stood  holding  it  in  her  hand,  without 
speaking  a  word,  until  it  caught  Nathan's  eye. 
He  snatched  it  from  her  grasp,  surveying  it  with 
astonishment  and  even  alarm,  and  only  ceased  to 
look  at  it,  when  little  Peter,  who  had  run  into  the 
corner  and  among  the  bed  of  leaves,  uttered  a 
whine  louder  than  before.  The  pouch  dropped 
from  Nathan's  hand  as  his  eye  fell  upon  the  shin- 
ing kettles,  on  which  he  gazed  as  if  petrified. 

"  What,  in  Heaven's  name,  is  the  matter?"  de- 
manded Roland,  himself  taking  the  alarm :  "  are 
you  frighted  at  your  own  kettles  ?" 

"  Mine  !"  cried  Nathan,  clasping  his  hands,  and 
looking  terror  and  remorse  together — "  If  thee 
will  kill  me,  friend,  thee  will  scarce  do  amiss ;  for, 
miserable,  bhnd  sinner  that  I  am,  I  have  led  thee 
poor  luckless  women  into  the  very  lion's  den!  into 
the  hiding-place  and  head-quarters  of  the  very 
cut-throats  that  is  seeking  to  destroy  thee!  Up 
and  away — does  thee  not  hear  Peter  howling  at 
the  door?  Hist!  Peter,  hist! — Truly,  this  is  a  pretty 
piece  of  business  for  thee,  Nathan  Slaughter! — 
Does  thee  not  hear  them  close  at  hand?" 

"  I  hear  the  hooting  of  an  owl  and  the  answer 
of  his  fellow,"  replied  Roland  ;  but  his  words  were 
cut  short  by  a  second  howl  from  Peter,  and  the 
cry  of  his  master,  "  Up,  if  thee  be  not  besotted ; 
drag  thee  women  by  the  hands,  and  follow  me." 

With  these  words,  Nathan  was  leaping  towards 
the  door,  when  a  cry  from  Roland  arrested  him. 
He  looked  round  and  perceived  Edith  had  fainted 
in  the  soldier's  arms.  "  I  will  save  the  poor  thing 
for  thee — help  thou  the  other,"  he  cried,  and 
snatching  her  up  as  if  she  had  been  but  a  feather, 
he  was  again  in  the  act  of  springing  to  the  door, 
when  brought  to  a  stand  by  a  far  more  exciting 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  191 

impediment.  A  shriek  from  Telie  Doe,  uttered  in 
sudden  terror,  was  echoed  by  a  laugh,  strangely 
wild,  harsh,  guttural,  and  expressive  of  equal 
triumph  and  derision,  coming  from  the  door; 
looking  to  which,  the  eyes  of  Nathan  and  the  sol- 
dier fell  upon  a  tall  and  naked  Indian,  shorn  and 
painted,  who,  rifle  in  hand,  the  grim  smile  yet 
WTithing  on  his  features,  and  exclaiming  with  a 
mockery  of  friendly  accost,  "  Bo-zhoo^*  brudders, 
— Injun  good  friend  !"  was  stepping  that  moment 
into  the  hovel;  and  as  if  that  spectacle  and  those 
sounds  were  not  enough  to  chill  the  heart's  blood 
of  the  spectators,  there  were  seen  over  his 
shoulders,  the  gleaming  eyes,  and  heard  behind 
his  back,  the  malign  laughter  of  three  or  four 
equally  wild  and  ferocious  companions. 

"  To  the  door,  if  thee  is  a  man, — rush!"  cried 
Nathan,  with  a  voice  more  like  the  blast  of  a 
bugle  than  the  tone  of  a  frighted  man  of  peace ; 
and  casting  Edith  from  his  arms,  he  set  the  exam- 
ple of  attack  or  flight — Roland  scarcely  knew 
which, — by  leaping  against  the  breast  of  the  daring 
intruder.  Both  fell  together  across  the  threshold, 
and  Roland,  obeying  the  call  with  desperate  and 
frantic  ardour,  stumbled  over  their  bodies,  pitch- 
ing headlong  into  the  passage,  whereby  he  es- 
caped the  certain  death  that  otherwise  awaited 
him,  three  several  rifle  shots  having  been  that  in- 
stant poured  upon  him  from  a  distance  of  scarce 
as  many  feet. 

"  Strike,  if  thee  conscience  permits  thee  !"  he 
heard  the   voice  of  Nathan  cry  in  his  ears,  and 


*  Bo-zhoo, — a  corruption  of  the  French  honjoury  a  word  of 
salutation  adopted  by  Western  Indians  from  the  Voyageurs 
of  Canada,  and  used  by  them  with  great  zeal  by  nig-ht  as  well 
as  by  day. 


192  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

the  next  moment,  a  shot  from  the  interior  of  the 
hovel,  heralded  by  a  quavering  cry  from  the  faith- 
ful Emperor, — "  Lorra-gor  !  nebber  harm  an  In- 
jun in  my  life !"  struck  the  hatchet  from  the  shat- 
tered liand  of  a  foeman,  who  had  taken  advan- 
tage of  his  downfall  to  aim  a  fatal  blow  at  him 
while  rising.  A  yell  of  pain  came  from  the 
maimed  and  baffled  warrior,  who,  springing  over 
the  blackened  ruins  before  the  door,  escaped  the 
stroke  of  the  clubbed  rifle  which  the  soldier  aimed 
at  him  in  return,  the  piece  having  been  discharged 
by  the  fall.  The  cry  of  the  flying  assailant  was 
echoed  by  what  seemed  in  Roland's  ears  the  yells 
of  fifty  supporters,  two  of  whom  he  saw  within 
six  feet  of  him,  brandishing  their  hatchets,  as  if 
in  the  act  of  flinging  them  at  his  almost  defence- 
less person.  It  was  at  this  moment  that  he  ex- 
perienced aid  from  a  quarter  whence  it  was 
almost  least  expected ;  a  rifle  was  discharged 
from  the  ravine,  and  as  one  of  the  fierce  foes  sud- 
denly dropped,  mortally  wounded,  upon  the  floor, 
he  heard  the  voice  of  Pardon,  the  Yankee,  cry- 
ing, in  tones  of  desperation,  "When  there's  no 
dodging  'em,  then  I'm  the  man  for  'em,  or  it  an't 
no  matter !" 

"  Bravo !  bravely  done.  Emperor  and  Dodge 
both!"  cried  Roland,  to  whom  this  happy  and 
quite  unexpected  display  of  courage  from  his  fol- 
lowers, and  its  successful  results,  imparted  a  de- 
gree of  assurance  and  hope  not  before  felt ;  for, 
indeed,  up  to  this  moment,  his  feeling  had  been 
the  mere  frenzy  of  despair  ;  "  courage,  and  rush 
on  !"  And  with  these  words,  he  did  not  hesitate 
to  dash  against  the  remaining  foe,  striking  up  the 
uplifted  hatchet  with  his  rifle,  and  endeavouring 
with  the  same  eflfort  to  dash  his  weapon  into  the 
warrior's  face.     But  the  former  part  only  of  the 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  198 

manoeuvre  succeeded  ;  the  tomahawk  was  indeed 
dashed  aside,  but  the  rifle  was  torn  from  his  own 
grasp,  and  the  next  moment  he  was  clutched  as 
in  the  embrace  of  a  bear,  and  pressed  with  suffo- 
cating force  upon  the  breast  of  his  undaunted 
adversar}^ 

"  Brudder !"  growled  the  savage,  and  the  foam 
flew  from  his  grinning  hps,  advanced  until  they 
were  almost  in  contact  with  the  soldier's  face, 
*'  Brudder  !"  he  cried,  as  he  felt  his  triumph,  and 
twined  his  arms  still  more  tightly  around  Roland's 
frame,  "  Long-knife  nothing  !  hab  a  scalp,  Shaw- 
nee !" 

With  these  words,  he  sprang  from  the  broken 
floor  of  the  passage,  on  which  the  encounter  be- 
gan, and  dragging  the  soldier  along,  made  as  if 
he  would  have  carried  him  off  alive.  But  al- 
though in  the  grasp  of  a  man  of  much  superior 
strength,  the  resolution  and  activity  of  Roland 
preserved  him  from  a  destiny  at  once  so  fearful 
and  ignoble.  He  exerted  the  strength  he  possess- 
ed at  the  instant  when  the  bulky  captor  was 
springing  from  the  floor  to  the  broken  ground 
beneath,  and  with  such  effect,  that,  though  it  did 
not  entirely  release  him  from  his  grasp,  it  car- 
ried them  headlong  to  the  earth  together ;  whence, 
after  a  brief  and  blind  struggle,  both  rose  toge- 
ther, each  clutching  at  the  weapon  that  promised 
soonest  to  terminate  the  contest.  The  pistols  of 
the  soldier,  which,  as  well  as  Emperor's,  the 
peaceful  Nathan  had  taken  the  precaution  to  carry 
with  him  into  the  ruin,  had  been  forgotten  in  the 
suddenness  and  hurry  of  the  assault ;  his  rifle  had 
been  wrested  from  his  hands,  and  liirown  he 
knew  not  where.  The  knife,  which,  like  a  true 
adventurer  of  the  forest,  he  had  buckled  in  his 
belt,  was  ready  to  be  grasped  ;  but  the  instinct  of 

VOL.  1. — 17 


194  MCK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

long  habits  carried  his  hand  to  the  broad-sword, 
which  was  yet  strapped  to  his  thigh  ;  and  this,  as 
he  rose,  he  attempted  to  draw,  not  doubting  that 
a  single  blow  of  the  trusty  steel  would  rid  him  of 
his  brown  enemy.  But  the  Shawnee,  as  bold,  as 
alert,  and  far  more  discreet,  better  acquainted, 
too,  with  those  savage  personal  rencontres  which 
make  up  so  large  a  portion  of  Indian  warfare, 
had  drawn  his  knife  before  he  had  yet  regained 
his  footing  ;  and  before  the  Virginian's  sword  was 
half  unsheathed,  the  hand  that  tugged  at  it  was 
again  seized  and  held  as  in  a  vice,  while  the 
warrior,  elevating  his  own  free  weapon  above  his 
head,  prepared,  with  a  laugh  and  whoop  of  tri- 
umph, to  plunge  it  into  the  soldier's  throat.  His 
countenance,  grim  with  war-paint,  grimmer  still 
with  ferocious  exultation,  w^as  distinctly  perceiv- 
ed, the  bright  blaze  of  the  fire  shining  through  the 
gaps  of  the  hovel,  so  as  to  illuminate  every  fea- 
ture;  and  Roland,  as  he  strove  in  vain  to  clutch 
at  the  uplifted  arm  so  as  to  avert  the  threatened 
blow,  could  distinguish  every  motion  of  the  wea- 
pon and  every  change  of  his  foeman's  visage. 
But  he  did  not  even  then  despair,  for  he  was  in 
all  circumstances  affecting  only  himself,  a  man  of 
true  intrepidity ;  and  it  was  only  when,  on  a  sud- 
den, the  light  wholly  vanished  irom  the  hovel,  as 
if  the  brands  had  been  scattered  and  trodden  out, 
that  he  began  to  anticipate  a  fatal  result  from  the 
advantage  possessed  by  his  opponent.  But  at  that 
very  instant,  and  while,  blinded  by  the  sudden 
darkness,  he  was  expecting  the  blow  which  he  no 
longer  knew  how  to  avoid,  the  laugh  of  the 
warrior,  now  louder  and  more  exultant  than  be- 
fore, was  suddenly  changed  to  a  yell  of  agony. 
A  jet  of  warm  blood,  at  the  same  moment,  gush- 
ed  over  Roland's  right   arm ;    and   the   savage, 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  195 

Struck  by  an  unknown  hand,  or  by  a  random  ball, 
fell  a  dead  man  at  his  feet,  overwhelming  the  sol- 
dier in  his  fall. 

"  Up,  and  do  according  to  thee  conscience !" 
cried  Nathan  Slaughter;  whose  friendly  arm, 
more  nervous  than  that  of  his  late  foe,  at  this  con- 
juncture jerked  Roland  from  beneath  the  body; 
"  for  truly,  thee  fights  like  unto  a  young  lion,  or 
an  old  bear;  and,  truly,  I  will  not  censure  thee,  if 
thee  kills  a  whole  dozen  of  the  wicked  cut-throats! 
Here  is  thee  gun  and  thee  pistols :  fire  and  shout 
aloud  with  thee  voice ;  for,  of  a  verity,  thee  ene- 
mies is  confounded  by  thee  resolution :  do  thee 
make  them  believe  thee  has  been  reinforced  bj^ 
numbers." 

And  with  that,  the  peaceful  Nathan,  uplifting 
his  voice,  and  springing  amoni]^  the  ruins  from 
log  to  log,  began  to  utter  a  series  of  shouts,  all 
designed  to  appear  as  if  coming  from  difl?erent 
throats,  and  all  expressing  such  manl}^  courage 
and  defiance,  that  even  Pardon  Dodge,  who  yet 
lay  ensconced  among  the  rocks  of  the  ravine,  and 
Emperor,  the  negro,  who,  it  seems,  had  taken  post 
behind  the  ruins  at  the  door,  felt  their  spirits  wax 
resolute  and  valiant,  and  added  their  voices  to  the 
din,  the  one  roaring,  "  Come  on,  ye 'tarnal  crit- 
turs,  if  you  must  come !"  while  the  other  bellow- 
ed, with  equal  spirit,  "  Don't  care  for  niggah  Injun 
no  way — will  fight  and  die  for  massa  and 
missie  !" 

All  these  several  details,  from  the  moment  of 
the  appearance  of  the  warrior  at  the  door  until 
the  loud  shouts  of  the  besieged  travellers  took  the 
place  of  the  savage  v^^hoops  previously  sounded, 
passed  in  fewer  moments  than  we  have  taken 
pages  to  record  them.  The  rush  of  Nathan 
against  the  leader,  the  discomfiture  of  one,  and 


196  •  MCK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

the  death  of  liis  two  other  comrades,  were  iiideea 
the  work  of  but  an  instant,  as  it  seemed  to  Row- 
land ;  and  he  was  scarce  aware  of  the  assault, 
before  he  perceived  that  it  was  over.  The  suc- 
cessful, and,  doubtless,  the  wholly  unexpected,  re- 
sistance of  the  little  party,  resulting  in  a  manner 
so  fata.1  to  the  advanced  guard  of  assailants,  had 
struck  terror  and  confusion  into  the  main  body, 
whose  presence  had  been  only  made  known  by 
their  yells,  not  a  single  shot  having  yet  been  fired 
by  them. 

It  was  in  this  moment  of  confusion  that  Nathan 
sprang  to  the  side  of  Roland,  wdio  was  hastily  re- 
charging his  piece,  and  catching  him  by  the  hand, 
said,  with  a  voice  that  betrayed  the  deepest  agi- 
tation, though  his  countenance  was  veiled  in  night, 
— "Friend,  I  have  betrayed,  thee  poor  women  into 
danger,  so  that  the  axe  ajxl  scalping-knife  is  now 
near  their  innocent  poor  heads  !" 

"  It  needs  not  to  speak  of  it,"  said  Roland  ;  add- 
ing hastily,  "  The  miscreant  that  entered  the 
cabin — did  you  kill  him  1" 

''Kill,  friend  !  /kill  1"  echoed  Nathan,  with  ac- 
cents more  disturbed  than  ever  ;  "  would  thee  have 
me  a  murderer  ?  Truly,  I  did  creep  over  him, 
and  leave  the  cabin. " 

"And  left  him  in  it  ahve!''  cried  Roland,  who 
was  about  to  rush  into  the  hovel,  when  Nathan 
detained  him,  saying,  "Don't  thee  be  alarmed, 
friend.  Truly,  thee  may  think  it  w^as  ill  of  me  to 
fall  upon  him  sa  violently;  but,  truly,  he  must 
have  split  his  head  on  a  log,  or  wounded  himself 
with  a  splinter; — or  perhaps  the  coloured  person 
stuck  him  with  a  knife;-  but,  truly,  as  it  happen- 
ed, his  blood  spouted  on  my  hand,  by  reason  of 
the  hurt  he  got;  so  that  I  left  him  clean  dead." 

<'  Good !"  said  Roland ;    "  but,   by   Heaven,   i 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  197 

hoped  and  believed  you  had  yourself  finished  him 
like  a  man.  But  time  presses :  we  must  retreat 
again  to  the  woods, — they  are  yet  open  behind 
us." 

"  Thee  is  mistaken,"  said  Nathan ;  and,  as  if  to 
confirm  his  w^ords,  there  arose  at  that  instant  a 
loud  whooping,  with  the  crack  of  a  dozen  or  more 
rifles,  let  fly  with  impotent  rage  by  the  enemy, 
showing  plainly  enough  that  the  ruin  was  already 
actually  environed. 

"  The  ravine, — the  river  !"  cried  Forrester ;  we 
can  swim  it  w^ith  the  horses,  if  it  be  not  ford- 
able." 

"  It  is  a  torrent  that  would  sweep  thee,  with  thee 
strongest  war-horse,  to  perdition,"  muttered  Na- 
than :  "does  thee  not  hear  how  it  roars  among 
the  rocks  and  clifl^s  ?  It  is  here  deep,  narrow,  and 
rocky;  and,  though,  in  the  season  of  drought,  a 
child  might  step  across  it  from  rock  to  rock,  it  is 
a  cataract  in  the  time  of  floods.  No,  friend  ;  I 
have  brought  thee  into  a  trap  whence  thee  has  no 
escape,  unless  thee  would  desert  thee  poor  helpless 
women." 

"  Put  but  them  in  safety,"  said  Roland,  "  and 
care  not  for  the  rest. — And  yet  I  do  not  despair: 
we  have  shown  what  we  can  do  by  resolution : 
we  can  keep  the  cut-throats  at  bay  till  the  morn- 

ing-" 

"  And  what  will  that  advantage  thee,  except  to 
see  thee  poor  females  murdered  in  the  light  of 
the  sun,  instead  of  having  them  killed  out  of  thee 
sight  in  darkness  ?  Truly,  the  first  glimmer  of 
dawn  v^ill  be  the  signal  of  death  to  all ;  for  then 
the  Shawnees  will  find  thee  weakness,  if  indeed 
they  do  not  find  it  before." 

"  Man  !"  said  Roland,  "  why  should  you  drive 
me  to  despair?  Give  me  better  comfort, — give  me 
17* 


198  MCK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

counsel,  or  say  no  more.  You  have  brouglit  us  to 
this  pass :  do  your  best  to  save  us,  or  our  blood  be 
upon  your  head." 

To  these  words  of  unjust  reproach,  wrung  from 
the  young  soldier  by  the  bitterness  of  his  feelings- 
Nathan  at  first  made  no  reply.  Preserving  silence 
for  awhile,  he  said,  at  last, — 

"  Well,  friend y  I  counsel  thee  to  be  of  good 
heart,  and  to  do  what  thee  can,  making  thee  ene- . 
mies,.  since  thee  cannot  increase  thee  friends,  as 
few  in  numbei's  as  possible ;  to  do  which,  friend,'* 
he  added,  suddenly,  "  if  thee  w^ill  shoot  that  evil 
creature  that  lies  like  a  log  on  the  earth,  creeping 
towards  the  ruin,  I  will  have  no  objection !" 

With  these  words,  which  were  uttered  in  a  low- 
voice,  Nathan,  pulling  the  young  man  behind  a 
screen  of  fallen  timbers  near  to  which  they  stood, 
endeavoured  to  point  him  out  the  enemy  whom 
his  eye  had  that  moment  detected  crawling  to- 
wards the  hovel  with  the  subtle  motion  of  a  ser- 
pent. But  the  vision  of  Roland,  not  yet  accustom- 
ed to  trace  objects  in  the  darkness  of  a  wood, 
failed  to  discover  the  approaching  foe. 

"  Truly,"  said  Nathan,  somewhat  impatiently, 
*'  if  thee  will  not  consider  it  as  an  evil  thing  ol' 
me,  and  a  blood-guiltiness,  I  will  hold  thee  gun  for 
thee,  and  thee  shall  pull  the  trigger !" — which 
piece  of  service  the  man  of  peace,  having  doubt- 
less satisfied  his  conscience  of  its  lawfulness,  was 
actually  about  to  render  the  soldier,  when  the 
good  intention  was  set  at  naught  by  the  savage 
suddenly  leaping  to  his  feet,  followed  by  a  dozen 
others,  all  springing,  as  it  seemed,  out  of  the 
earth,  and  rushing  with  wild  yells  against  the 
ruin.  The  suddenness  and  fury  of  the  attack 
struck  dismay  to  the  bosom  of  the  soldier,  who 
discharging  his  rifle,  and  snatching  up  his  pistols* 


NICK  or  THE  WOODS.  199 

already  in  imagination  beheld  the  bloody  fingers 
of  a  barbarian  grasped  among  the  bright  locks  of 
his  Edith;  when  Nathan,  crying,  "Blood  upon 
my  hands,  but  not  upon  my  head  !^ — give  it  to 
them,  murdering  dogs  !"  let  fly  his  own  piece  upon 
the  throng ;  the  effect  of  which,  together  with  the 
discharge  of  Roland's  pistols  immediately  after, 
was  such  as  to  stagger  the  assailants,  of  w^hom 
but  a  single  one  preserved  resolution  enough  to 
advance  upon  the  defenders,  whooping  to  his  com- 
panions in  vain  to  follow.  "  Thee  will  remember  I 
fight  to  save  the  Hves  of  thee  helpless  women !" 
muttered  Nathan,  in  Roland's  ear ;  and  then,  as  if 
the  first  act  of  warfare  had  released  him  for  ever 
from  all  peaceful  obligations,  awoke  a  courage  and 
appetite  for  blood  superior  even  to  the  soldier's, 
and,  in  other  w^ords,  set  him  entirely  beside  him- 
self, he  rushed  against  the  advancing  Shaw^nee, 
dealing  him  a  blow  with  the  butt  of  his  heavy- 
stocked  rifle  that  crushed  through  skull  and  brain 
as  through  a  gourd,  killing  the  man  on  the  spot. 
Then,  leaping  like  a  buck  to  avoid  the  shot  of  the 
others,  he  rushed  back  to  the  ruin,  and  grasping 
the  hand  of  the  admiring  soldier,  and  wringing  it 
with  all  his  might,  he  cried, "  Thee  sees  what  thee 
has  brought  me  to  !  Friend,  thee  has  seen  me  shed 
a  man's  blood  ! — But,  nevertheless,  friend,  the  vil- 
lains shall  not  kill  thee  poor  women,  nor  harm  a 
hair  of  their  heads." 

The  valour  of  the  man  of  peace  was  fortunately 
seconded  on  this  occasion  by  Dodge  and  the  ne- 
gro, the  former  from  his  hiding  place  in  the  ravine, 
the  latter  from  among  the  ruins ;  and  the  enemy, 
thus  seriously  warned  of  the  danger  of  approach- 
ing too  nigh  a  fortress  manned  by  w'hat  very 
naturally  appeared  to  them  eight  difierent  per- 
sons,— for  such,   including  the   pistols,   was   the 


200  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

number  of  fire-arms, — retired  precipitately  to  the 
woods,  where  they  expressed  their  hostihty  only 
by  occasional  whoops,  and  now  and  then  by  a  shot 
fired  impotendy  against  the  ruins. 

The  success  of  this  second  defence,  the  spirited 
behaviour  of  Dodge  and  Emperor,  but  more  than 
all  the  happy  change  in  the  principles  and  practice 
of  Nathan,  who  seemed  as  if  about  to  prove  that 
he  could  deserve  the  nickname  of  Bloody,  so  long 
bestowed  upon  him  in  derision,  greatly  relieved 
the  spirits  of  the  soldier,  who  was  not  without 
hopes  of  being  able  to  maintain  the  contest  until 
the  enemy  should  be  discouraged  and  driven  oft", 
or  some  providential  accident  bring  him  succour. 
He  took  advantage  of  the  cessation  of  hostilities, 
to  creep  into  the  hovel  and  whisper  words  of  as- 
surance to  his  feebler  dependants,  of  whom  indeed 
Telie  Doe  now  betrayed  the  greatest  distress  and 
agitation,  while  Edith  on  the  contrary  maintained, 
as  he  judged — for  the  fire  was  extinguished,  and 
he  saw  not  her  countenance — a  degree  of  tran- 
quillity he  had  not  dared  to  hope.  It  was  a  tran- 
quillity, however,  resulting  from  despair  and 
stupor, — a  lethargy  of  spirit,  resulting  from  over- 
wrought feelings,  in  which  she  happily  remained, 
more  than  half  unconscious  of  what  was  passing 
around  her. 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  201 


CHAPTER  XV. 


The  enemy,  twice  repulsed,  and  on  both  oc- 
casions with  severe  loss,  had  been  taught  the  folly 
of  exposing  themselves  too  freely  to  the  fire  of  the 
travellers ;  but  although  driven  back,  they  mani- 
fested little  inclination  to  fly  further  than  was  ne- 
cessary to  obtain  shelter,  and  as  little  to  give  over 
their  fierce  purposes.  Concealing  themselves 
severally  behind  logs,  rocks,  and  bushes,  and  so 
disposing  their  force  as  to  form  a  line  around  the 
ruin,  open  only  towards  the  river,  where  escape 
was  obviously  impracticable,  they  employed  them- 
selves keeping  a  strict  watch  upon  the  hovel, 
firing  repeated  volleys,  and  as  often  uttering  yells, 
with  which  they  sought  to  strike  terror  into  the 
hearts  of  the  travellers.  Occasionally  some  sin- 
gle warrior,  bolder  than  the  rest,  would  creep 
near  the  ruins,  and  obtaining  such  shelter  as  he 
could,  discharge  his  piece  at  any  mouldering 
beam,  or  other  object,  which  his  fancy  converted 
into  the  exposed  body  of  a  defender.  But  the 
travellers  had  taken  good  care  to  establish  them- 
selves in  such  positions  among  the  ruins  as  offered 
the  best  protection;  and  although  the  bullets 
whistled  sharp  and  nigh,  not  a  single  one  had  yet 
received  a  wound  ;  nor  was  there  much  reason  to 
apprehend  injury,  so  long  as  the  darkness  of  night 
befriended  them. 

Yet  it  was  obvious  to  all,  that  this  state  of  se- 
curity could  not  last  long,  and  that  it  existed  only 


202  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

because  the  enemy  was  not  yet  aware  of  his  ad- 
vantage. The  condition  of  the  ruins  was  such 
that  a  dozen  men  of  sufficient  spirit,  dividing 
themselves,  and  creeping  along  the  earth,  might, 
at  any  moment  make  their  way  to  any  and  every 
part  of  the  hovel,  without  being  seen ;  when  a 
single  rush  must  put  it  in  their  power.  An  open 
assault,  indeed,  from  the  whole  body  of  besiegers, 
whose  number  was  reckoned  by  Nathan  at  full 
fifteen  or  twenty,  must  have  produced  the  same 
success,  though  with  the  loss  of  several  lives.  A 
random  shot  might  at  any  moment  destroy  or  dis- 
able one  of  the  little  garrison,  and  thus  rob  one 
important  corner  of  the  hovel,  which  from  its  di- 
lapidated state,  was  wholly  indefensible  from  with- 
in, of  defence.  It  was,  indeed,  as  Roland  felt, 
more  than  folly  to  hope  that  all  should  escape  un- 
harmed for  many  hours  longer.  But  the  worst 
fear  of  all  was  that  previously  suggested  by  Na- 
than:  all  might  survive  the  perils  of  the  night; 
but  what  fate  was  to  be  expected,  when  the  com- 
ing of  day  should  expose  the  party,  in  all  its  true 
weakness,  to  the  eyes  of  the  enemy  1  If  relief 
came  not  before  morning,  Roland's  heart  whis- 
pered him,  it  must  come  in  vain.  But  the  proba- 
bilities of  relief, — what  were  they?  The  question 
was  asked  of  Nathan,  and  the  answer  went  like 
iron  through  Roland's  soul.  They  were  in  the 
deepest  and  most  solitary  part  of  the  forest, 
twelve  miles  from  Bruce's  Station,  and  at  least 
eight  from  that  at  which  the  emigrants  were  to 
lodge ;  with  no  other  places  within  twice  the  dis- 
tance, from  which  help  could  be  obtained.  They 
had  left,  three  or  four  miles  behind,  the  main  and 
only  road  on  which  volunteers,  summoned  from 
the  Western  Stations  to  repel  the  invasion,  of 
which,  the  news  had  arrived  before  Roland's  de- 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  203 

parture  from  Bruce's  village,  could  be  expected  to 
pass ;  if  indeed  the  strong  force  of  the  enemy- 
posted  at  the  Upper  Ford  had  not  cut  oft^all  com- 
munication between  the  two  districts.  From 
Bruce's  Station,  httle  or  no  assistance  could  be 
hoped,  the  entire  strength  of  its  garrison,  as  Ro- 
land well  knew,  having  long  since  departed  to 
share  in  the  struggle  on  the  north  side  of  Ken- 
tucky. Assistance  could  be  looked  for  only  from 
his  late  companions,  the  emigrants,  from  whom 
he  had  parted  in  an  evil  hour.  But  how  were 
they  to  be  made  acquainted  with  his  situation  ? 

The  discussion  of  these  questions  almost  dis- 
tracted the  young  man.  Help  could  only  come 
from  themselves.  Would  it  not  be  possible  to  cut 
their  way  through  the  besiegers  ?  He  proposed  a 
thousand  wald  schemes  of  escape  ;  now  he  would 
mount  his  trusty  steed,  and  dashing  among  the 
enemy,  receive  their  fire,  distract  their  attention, 
and  perhaps  draw  them  in  pursuit,  while  Nathan 
and  the  others  galloped  off  with  the  women  in 
another  quarter;  and  again,  he  would  plunge 
with  them  into  the  boiling  torrent  below,  trust- 
ing to  the  strength  of  the  horses  to  carry  them 
through  in  safety. 

To  these  and  other  wild  proposals,  uttered  in 
the  intervals  of  combat,  which  was  still  main- 
tained, with  occasional  demonstrations  on  the 
part  of  the  enemy  of  advancing  to  a  third  assault, 
Nathan  replied  only  by  representing  the  certain 
death  they  would  bring  upon  all,  especially  '  the 
poor  helpless  women  ;'  whose  condition,  with  the 
reflection,  that  he  had  brought  them  into  it,  seem- 
ed ever  to  dwell  upon  his  mind,  producing  feel- 
ings of  remorseful  excitement  not  inferior  even  to 
the  compunctions  which  he  expressed  at  every 
shot  discharged  by  him  at  the  foe.  Indeed  his  con- 


*204  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

science  seemed  sorely  distrest  and  perplexed; 
now  he  upbraided  himself  with  being  the  murder- 
er of  the  two  poor  women,  and  now  of  his  Shaw- 
nee fellow-creatures;  now  he  wrung  the  soldier 
by  the  hand,  begging  him  to  bear  witness,  that  he 
was  shedding  blood,  not  out  of  malice,  or  wanton- 
ness, or  even  self-defence,  but  purely  to  save  the 
innocent  scalps  of  poor  women,  whose  blood 
would  be  otherwise  on  his  head  ;  and  now  beseech- 
ing the  young  man  wdth  equal  fervour  to  let  the 
world  know  of  his  doings,  that  the  blame  might 
fall,  not  upon  the  faith  of  which  he  was  an  unw^or- 
thy  professor,  but  upon  him,  the  evil-doer  and 
back-slider.  But  with  all  his  remorse  and  contri- 
tion, he  manifested  no  inchnation  to  give  over  the 
work  of  fighting ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  fired 
aw^ay  with  extreme  good-will  at  every  evil  Shaw- 
nee creature  that  showed  himself,  encouraging 
Roland  to  do  the  same,  and  exhibiting  throughout 
the  whole  contest  the  most  exemplary  courage 
and  good  conduct. 

But  courage  and  good  conduct,  although  so  un- 
expectedly manifested,  in  the  time  of  need,  by  all 
his  companions,  Roland  felt,  could  only  serve  to 
defer  for  a  few  hours  the  fate  of  his  party.  The 
night  wore  away  fast,  the  assailants  grew  bolder  ; 
and  from  the  louder  yells  and  more  frequent  shots 
coming  from  them,  it  seemed  as  if  their  numbers, 
instead  of  diminishing  under  his  own  fire,  were 
gradually  increasing,  by  the  dropping  in  of  their 
scouts  from  the  forest.  At  the  same  time,  he  be- 
came sensible  that  his  stores  of  ammunition  were 
fast  decreasing. 

"Friend  !"  said  Nathan,  wringing  the  soldier's 
hand  for  the  twentieth  time,  when  made  acquaint- 
ed with  the  deficiency,  "it  is  written,  that  thee 


?riCK  OF  THE  WOODS,  205 

women  shall  be  murdered  before  thee  eyes  !  Ne- 
vertheless I  will  do  my  best  to  save  them.  Friend. 
J  must  leave  thee  !  Thee  shall  have  assistance. 
Can  thee  hold  out  the  hovel  till  morning? — But  it 
is  foolish  to  ask  thee  ;  thee  mitst  hold  it  out ;  and 
with  none  save  the  coloured  [)erson  and  the  man 
Dodge,  to  help  thee :  for  I  say  to  thee,  it  has  come 
to  this  at  last,  as  I  thought  it  would, — I  must  break 
through  the  lines  of  thee  Injun  foes,  and  find  thee 
assistance." 

"  If  you  but  could  P'  said  Roland,  grasping  at 
the  hope  ;  "  but  how  to  pass  them  in  safety?  Hark 
you,  man,  we  can,  by  a  show  of  attack  on  our 
own  part,  draw  a  fire  from  the  villains;  and  then 
a  horseman  as  familiar  as  yourself  with  the  woods, 
might  dash  through  and  effect  his  escape.  We 
will  do  this:  you  shall  have  the  best  horse, — Bria- 
reus  himself:  worn  and  exhausted  as  he  is,  he  will 
bear  you  off  at  the  top  of  his  speed,  and  fall  dead, 
before  he  attempts  to  slacken  it.  With  him,  you 
can  reach  the  emigrants  in  half  an  hour;  and 
then,  then,  Heaven  be  praised!  you  will  find  men 
brave  and  true,  who  will  follow  you  as  quickly  to 
the  rescue." 

"  It  would  be  the  better  for  thee  poor  women,'* 
replied  Nathan,  ^'  if  I  had  a  fleet  horse  to  bear  me 
on  the  way  faster  than  I  can  run  on  my  own  legs ; 
but,  truly,  friend,  the  riding  away  of  a  man  on 
horseback  through  this  crew  of  murdering  Injuns, 
is  no  such  safe  matter  as  thee  thinks,  where  there 
are  knives  and  axes,  as  w^ell  as  rifle-bullets;  and 
it  would,  besides,  be  the  ruin  of  thee  and  thee 
poor  women,  as  showing  the  lessening  of  thee 
numbers,  and  the  fear  that  was  on  thee  spirit.  Of 
a  truth,  what  I  do  must  be  done  in  secret;  thee 
enemies  must  not  know  it.  I  must  creep  among 
hem,  friend,  and  make  my  way  on  foot." 
^vo    L.  I. — 18 


206  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

"  It  is  impossible,"  said  Roland,  in  despair ; 
you  will  only  provoke  your  destruction." 

"  It  may  be,  friend,  as  thee  says,"  responded 
Nathan ;  "  nevertheless,  friend,  for  thee  women's 
sake,  I  will  adventure  it;  for  it  is  I,  miserable  sin- 
ner that  I  am,  that  have  brought  them  to  this 
pass,  and  that  must  bring  them  out  of  it  again,  if 
man  can  do  it.  If  I  succeed,  and  thee  friends  is 
the  men  thee  says,  truly,  then  I  shall  save  thee  life 
and  the  lives  of  all ;  if  I  fail,  then,  friend,  I  shall 
not  see  the  sight  I  have  seen  before, — the  death  of 
innocent,  helpless  women  under  the  Injun  scalp- 
ing-knife.  Friend,  I  tell  thee,"  he  continued,  "  I 
must  creep  through  thee  foes ;  and  with  Heaven's 
help  and  little  Peter's,  truly,  it  may  be  that  I  shall 
creep  through  them  successfully." 

At  a  moment  of  less  grief  and  desperation,  Ro- 
land would  have  better  appreciated  the  magnitude 
of  the  service  which  Nathan  thus  offered  to  at- 
tempt, and  even  hesitated  to  permit  what  must 
have  manifestly  seemed  the  throwing  away  of  a 
human  hfe.  But  the  emergency  was  too  great 
to  allow  the  operation  of  any  but  selfish  feel- 
ings. The  existence  of  his  companions,  the  life 
of  his  Edith,  depended  upon  procuring  relief, 
and  this  could  be  obtained  in  no  other  way.  If  the 
undertaking  was  dangerous  in  the  extreme,  he 
saw  it  with  the  eyes  of  a  soldier,  as  well  as  a 
lover;  it  was  a  feat  he  would  himself  have  dared 
without  hesitation,  could  it  have  promised,  in  his 
hands,  any  relief  to  his  followers. 

"  Go,  then,  and  God  be  with  you,"  he  muttered, 
eagerly ;  "  you  have  our  lives  in  your  hand.  But 
it  will  be  long,  long  before  you  can  reach  the 
band  on  foot.  Yet  do  not  weary  or  pause  by  the 
way.  I  have  but  little  wealth, — but  with  what  I 
have,  I  will  reward  you." 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  207 

**  Friend,"  said  Nathan,  proudly,  "  what  I  do,  I 
do  for  no  lucre  of  reward,  but  for  pity  of  thee  poor 
women  ;  for,  truly,  I  have  seen  the  murdering  and 
scalping  of  poor  women  before,  and  the  seeing  of 
the  same  has  left  blood  upon  my  head,  which  is  a 
mournful  thing  to  think  of" 

"Well,  be  not  offended:  do  what  you  can — 
our  lives  may  rest  on  a  single  minute." 

"  I  will  do  what  I  can,  friend,"  replied  Nathan  ; 
"  and  if  I  can  but  pass  safely  through  thee  foes, 
there  is  scarce  a  horse  in  thee  company,  were  it 
even  thee  war-horse,  that  shall  run  to  thee  friends 
more  fleetly.  But,  friend,  do  thee  hold  out  the 
house ;  use  thee  powder  charily ;  keep  up  the  spirits 
of  thee  two  men ;  and  be  of  good  heart  theeself, 
fighting  valiantly,  and  slaying  according  to  thee 
conscience:  and  then,  friend,  if  it  be  Heaven's 
will,  I  will  return  to  thee  and  help  thee  out  of  thee 
troubles." 

With  these  words  of  encouragement,  Nathan 
immediately  prepared  for  the  undertaking,  despe- 
rate as  it  seemed,  of  making  his  way  through  the 
lines  of  the  enemy.  His  preparations  were  few 
and  easily  made,  and  consisted  principally  of  dis- 
burthening  himself  of  his  powder  and  ball,  which 
he  gave  to  Roland  to  be  divided  among  the  three 
remaining  combatants,  in  drawing  up  the  skirts  of 
his  leather  coat,  which  he  belted  round  his  waist 
in  such  way  as  to  leave  his  legs  free  for  the  pecu- 
liar duty  to  which  they  were  to  be  put,  and  in 
summoning  to  his  side  little  Peter,  whom  he  had 
taken  the  earliest  opportunity  to  stow  away  in  a 
safe  place  among  the  ruins,  where  he  had  quietly 
remained  ever  since ;  for,  as  Nathan  said,  "  Little 
Peter's  good  qualities  was,  not  in  fighting,  but  in 
taking  care  of  his  master."  His  rifle,  although  he 
had  robbed  himself  of  ammunition,  leaving  but  a 


20S  KICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

single  charge  in  his  horn  and  pouch,  Nathan  ob- 
stinately insisted  on  retaining  and  carrying  with 
him,  however  much  it  might  encumber  him  in  his^ 
flight;  and  with  this  poised  in  his  hand,  his  knife 
transferred  from  his  belt  to  his  breast,  where  it 
was  ready  to  be  grasped  at  a  moment's  warning, 
and  little  Peter  crouched  upon  the  earth  before 
him,  to  guide  the  way,  he  prepared  to  execute  his 
bold  purpose,  with  an  alacrity  that  awoke  some- 
thing like  suspicion  in  Roland's  bosom. 

"  If  you  fail  me,  man,"  he  muttered,  with  some 
agitation,  as  he  pondered  upon  the  effects  of  such 
defection,  "  if  you  have  devised  this  undertaking 
only  to  efl^ect  your  own  escape,  deserting  me,  de- 
serting my  friends,  whom  you  leave  in  such  ex- 
tremity, abandoned  to  our  fate, — may  Heaven 
fail  you  in  like  manner,  and  that  in  the  time  of 
your  greatest  need  !'* 

"  If  thee  knew  what  it  was  to  creep  through  a 
camp  of  w'arring  Shawnces,"  said  Nathan,  with 
great  equanimity,  "  thee  would  allow  that  the 
cowardly  and  betraying  man  w^ould  look  for 
some  safer  way  of  escape.  Do  thee  but  be  as 
true  to  theeself  and  thee  women  as  I  will,  and  it 
may  be  that  all  shall  yet  escape  unharmed.  Fare- 
well, friend, '^  he  continued,  grasping  Roland's 
hand,  and  grasping  it  as  one  who  meditated  the 
mean  and  cowardly  desertion  which  Roland  had 
for  a  moment  imputed  to  him,  could  never  have 
done ;  "  if  I  fall,  I  shall  not  hear  the  last  shriek  of 
thee  murdered  women;  if  I  live,  and  thee  can 
make  good  thee  defence  till  morning,  neither  shalt 
thou." 

With  these  words,  Nathan  turned  from  the  sol- 
dier, setting  out  upon  his  dangerous  duty  with  a 
courage  and  self-devotion  of  which  Roland  did 
not  yet  know  all  the   merit.     He  threw  himself 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  209 

upon  the  earth,  and  muttering  to  Httle  Peter, 
"  Now,  Peter,  as  thee  ever  served  thee  master 
well  and  truly,  serve  him  well  and  truly  now," 
began  to  ghde  aw^ay  among  the  ruins,  making  his 
way  from  log  to  log  and  bush  to  bush,  close  be- 
hind the  animal,  who  seemed  to  determine  the 
period  and  direction  of  every  movement.  His 
course  was  down  the  river,  the  opposite  of  that 
by  which  the  party  had  reached  the  ruin,  in 
which  quarter  the  woods  were  nighest,  and  pro- 
mised the  most  accessible,  as  w^ell  as  the  best  shel- 
ter; though  that  could  be  reached  only  in  the  event 
of  his  successfully  avoiding  the  different  barba- 
rians hidden  among  the  bushes  on  its  border.  He 
soon  vanished,  with  his  dog,  from  the  eyes  of  the 
soldier;  who  now,  in  pursuance  of  instructions 
previously  given  him  by  Nathan,  caused  his  two 
followers  to  let  fly  a  volley  among  the  trees,  which 
had  the  expected  effect  of  drawing  another  in  re- 
turn from  the  foes,  accompanied  by  their  loudest 
whoops  of  menace  and  defiance.  In  this  man- 
ner, Nathan,  as  he  drew  nigh  the  wood,  was  en- 
abled to  form  correct  opinions  as  to  the  different 
positions  of  the  besiegers,  and  to  select  that  point 
in  the  line  which  seemed  the  weakest ;  while  the 
attention  of  the  foe  was  in  a  measure  drawn  off, 
so  as  to  give  him  the  better  opportunity  of  ad- 
vancing on  them  unobserved.  With  this  object  in 
view,  a  second  and  third  volley  were  fired  by  the 
little  garrison ;  after  which  they  ceased  making 
such  feints  of  hostility,  and  left  him  as  he  had 
directed,  to  his  fate. 

It  was  then  that,  with  a  beating  heart,  Ro- 
land awaited  the  event,  and,  as  he  began  to 
figure  to  his  imagination  the  perils  which  Nathan 
must  necessarily  encounter  in  the  undertaking, 
he  listened  for  the  shout  of  triumph  that  he  feared 
18* 


210  FICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

would,  each   moment,  proclaim   the   capture   or 
death  of  his  messenger.     But  he  listened  in  vain- 
—at  least,  in  vain  Tor  such    sounds   as  his  skill 
might  interpret  into  evidences  of  Nathan^s  fate : 
he  heard  nothing  but  the  occasional  crack  of  a 
rifle  aimed  at  the  ruin,  with  the  yell  of  the  sa- 
vage  that  fired  it,   the  rush  of   the   breeze,  the 
rumbling  of    the    thunder,    and    the    deep-toned 
echoes  from  the  river  below.     There  was  nothing 
whatever  occurred,  at  least  for  a  quarter  of  an 
hour,   by  which  he  might  judge   what   was    the 
issue  of  the  enterprise:  and  he  was  beginning  to 
indulge  the  hope  that  Nathan  had  passed  safely 
through  the  besiegers,  when  a  sudden  yell  of  a 
peculiarly  wild  and  thrilling  character,  was  utter- 
ed in  the  wood  in   the  quarter  in  which  Nathan 
had  fled ;  and  this,  exciting,  as  it  seemed  to  do,  a 
prodigious   sensation   among  his  foes,  filled  him 
with   anxiety  and  dread.     To  his  ears  the   shout 
expressed  fury  and  exultation  such  as  might  well 
be  felt  at  the  sudden  discovery  and  capture  of  the 
luckless  messenger;  and  his   fear  that   such  had 
been  the  end  of  Nathan's  undertaking  was  greatly 
increased   by   what    followed.      The   shots    and 
whoops  suddenly  ceased,  and,  for  ten  minutes  or 
more,  all  was  silent,  save  the  roar  of  the  river, 
and  the  whispering  of  the  fitful  breeze.     "  They 
have  taken  him    alive,   poor  wretch!"   muttered 
the  soldier,  "  and  now  they  are  forcing  from  him 
a  confession  of  our  weakness!  " 

It  seemed  as  if  there  might  be  some  foundation 
for  the  suspicion ;  for  presently  a  great  shout  burst 
from  the  enemy,  and  the  next  moment  a  rush  was 
made  against  the  ruin  as  if  by  the  whole  force  of 
the  enemy.  "  Fire  !"  shouted  Roland  to  his  com- 
panions :  "  if  we  must  die,  let  it  be  like  men  ;'* 
and  no  sooner  did  he  behold  the  dark  figures  of 


WICK  OP  THE  WOODS,  211 

the  assailants  leaping  among  the  ruins,  than  he 
discharged  his  rifle  and  the  pair  of  pistols  which 
he  had  reserved  in  his  own  hands,  the  other  pair 
having  been  divided  between  Dodge  and  the  ne- 
gro, who  used   them  with   equal  resolution,  and 
wdth  an  effect  that  Roland  had  not  anticipated : 
the  assailants,  apparently  daunted  by  the  weight 
of  the  volley,  seven  pieces  having  been  discharged 
in  rapid  succession,  instantly  beat  a  retreat,  re- 
suming their  former  positions.     From  these,  how- 
ever, they  now  maintained  an  almost  incessant 
fire  ;  and  by  and  by  several  of  them,  stealing  cau- 
tiously up,  effected  a  lodgment  in  a  distant  part  of 
the  ruins,  whence,  without  betraying  any  especial 
desire  to  come  to   closer  quarters,  they  began  to 
carry  on  the  war  in  a  manner  that  greatly  in- 
creased Roland's  alarm,  their  bullets  flying  about 
and   into   the  hovel  so  thickly   that   he    became 
afraid  lest  some  of  them  should  reach  its  hapless 
inhabitants.      He   was    already   debating  within 
himself  the  propriety  of  transferring   Edith  and 
her  companion  from  this  ruinous  and  now  danger- 
ous  abode  to  the  ravine,  where   they   might  be 
sheltered  from  all  danger,    at   least   for  a  time, 
when  a  bolt  of  lightning,  as  he  at  first  thought  it, 
shot  from  the  nearest  group  of  foes,  flashed  over 
his  head,  and  striking  what  remained  of  the  roof, 
stood  trembling  in  it,  an  arrow  of  blazing  fire. 
The  appearance  of  this   missile,   followed,  as  it 
immediately  was,  by  several   others  discharged 
from  the  same  bow,  confirmed  the  soldier's  reso- 
lution to  remove  the  females,  while  it  greatly  in- 
creased his  anxiety ;  for  although  there  was  little 
fear  that  the  flames  could  be  communicated  from 
the  arrows  to  the  roof  so  deeply  saturated  by  the 
late  rains,  yet  each,  while  burning,  served,  like  a 
flambeau,  to  illuminate  the  ruins  below,  and  must 


212  MCK  or  THE  WOODS. 

be  expected  before  long  to  reveal  the  helplessness 
of  the  party,  and  to  light  the  besiegers  to  their 
prey. 

With  such  fears  on  his  mind,  he  hesitated  no 
longer  to  remove  his  cousin  and  her  companion 
to  the  ravine ;  which  was  effected  with  but  little 
risk  or  difficulty,  the  ravine  heading,  as  was  men- 
tioned before,  under  the  floor  of  the  hovel  itself, 
and  its  borders  being  so  strewn  with  broken  tim- 
bers and  planks,  as  to  screen  the  party  from  ob- 
servation. He  concealed  them  both  among  the 
rocks  and  brambles  with  which  the  hollow 
abounded,  listened  a  moment  to  the  rush  of  the 
flood  as  it  swept  the  precipitous  bank,  and  the 
roar  with  which  it  seemed  struggling  among 
rocky  obstructions  above,  and  smiling  w^ith  the 
grim  thought,  that,  when  resistance  was  no  longer 
availing,  there  was  yet  a  refuge  for  his  kins- 
woman within  the  dark  bosom  of  those  troubled 
waters,  to  w^hich  he  felt,  with  the  stern  resolution 
of  a  Roman  father  rather  than  of  a  christian 
lover,  that  he  could,  when  nothing  else  remained, 
consign  her  with  his  own  hands,  he  returned  to 
the  ruins,  to  keep  up  the  appearance  of  still  de- 
fending it,  and  to  preserve  the  entrance  of  the 
ravine. 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  213 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


The  flaming  arrows  were  still  shot  in  vain  at 
the  w^ater-soaked  roof,  and  the  combustibles  w^ith 
which  they  were  armed,  burning  out  very  rapidly, 
produced  but  little  of  that  effect  in  illuminating 
the  ruins  which  Roland  had  apprehended,  and  for 
which  they  had  been  perhaps  in  part  designed ; 
and,  in  consequence,  the  savages  soon  ceased  to 
shoot  them.  A  more  useful  ally  to  the  besiegers 
was  promised  in  the  moon,  which  was  now  rising 
over  the  woods,  and  occasionally  revealing  her 
wan  and  wasted  crescent  through  gaps  in  the 
clouds.  Waning  in  her  last  quarter,  and  strug- 
gling amid  banks  of  vapour,  she  yet  retained  suf- 
ficient magnitude  and  lustre,  when  risen  a  few 
more  degrees,  to  dispel  the  almost  sepulchral 
darkness  that  had  hitherto  invested  the  ruins,  and 
thus  proved  a  more  effectual  protection  to  the 
travellers  than  their  own  courage.  Of  this  Roland 
was  well  aware,  and  he  watched  the  increasing 
light  with  sullen  and  gloomy  forbodings,  though 
still  exhorting  his  two  supporters  to  hope  and 
courage,  and  setting  them  a  constant  example  of 
vigilance  and  resolution.  But  neither  hope  nor 
courage,  neither  vigilance  nor  resolution,  availed 
to  deprive  the  foe  of  the  advantage  he  had  gained 
in  effecting  a  lodgment  among  the  ruins,  where 
four  or  five  different  warriors  still  maintained  a 
hot  fire  upon  the  hovel,  doing,  of  course,  Httle 
harm,  as  it  was  entirely  deserted,  but  threatening 


214  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

mischief  enough,  when  it  should  fall  into  their 
hands, — a  catastrophe  that  was  deferred  only  in 
consequence  of  the  extreme  cautiousness  with 
which  they  now  conducted  hostilities,  the  travel- 
lers making  only  a  show  of  defending  it,  though 
sensible  that  it  almost  entirely  commanded  the 
ravine. 

It  was  now  more  than  an  hour  and  a  half  since 
Nathan  had  departed,  and  Roland  was  beginning 
himself  to  feel  the  hope  he  encouraged  in  the 
others,  that  the  man  of  peace  had  actually  suc- 
ceeded in  effecting  his  escape,  and  that  the  wild 
whoop  which  he  at  first  esteemed  the  evidence  of 
his  capture  or  death,  and  the  assault  that  followed 
it,  had  been  caused  by  some  circumstance  having 
no  relation  to  Nathan  whatever, — perhaps  by  the 
arrival  of  a  reinforcement,  whose  coming  had  in- 
fused new  spirit  into  the  breasts  of  the  so  long 
baffled  assailants.  "  If  he  have  escaped,"  he  mut- 
tered, "he  must  already  be  near  the  camp: — a 
strong  man  and  fleet  runner  might  reach  it  in  an 
hour.  In  another  hour, — nay,  perhaps  in  half  an 
hour,  for  there  are  good  horses  and  bold  hearts  in 
the  band, — I  shall  hear  the  rattle  of  their  hoofs  in 
the  wood,  and  the  yells  of  these  cursed  bandits, 
scattered  like  dust  under  their  footsteps.  If  I  can 
but  hold  the  ravine  for  an  hour !  Thank  Heaven, 
the  moon  is  a  second  time  lost  in  clouds,  the  thun- 
der is  again  rolling  through  the  sky  !  A  tempest 
now  were  better  than  gales  of  Araby, — a  thunder- 
gust  were  our  salvation." 

The  wishes  of  the  soldier  seemed  about  to  be 
fulfilled.  The  clouds,  which  for  half  an  hour  had 
been  breaking  up,  again  gathered,  producing 
thicker  darkness  than  before ;  and  heavy  peals  of 
thunder,  heralded  by  pale  sheets  of  lightning  that 
threw  a  ghastly  but  insufficient  light  over  objects, 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  215 

were  again  heard  rattling  at  a  distance  over  the 
woods.  The  fire  of  the  savages  began  to  slacken, 
and  by  and  by  entirely  ceased.  They  waited  per- 
haps for  the  moment  when  the  increasing  glare 
of  the  lightning  should  enable  them  better  to  dis- 
tinguish between  the  broken  timbers,  the  objects 
of  so  many  wasted  volleys,  and  the  crouching 
bodies  of  the  defenders. 

The  soldier  took  advantage  of  this  moment  of 
tranquillity  to  descend  to  the  river  to  quench  his 
thirst,  and  to  bear  back  some  of  the  liquid  element 
to  his  fainting  followers.  While  engaged  in  this 
duty  he  cast  his  eyes  upon  the  scene,  surveying 
with  sullen  interest  the  flood  that  cutoff  his  escape 
from  the  fatal  hovel.  The  mouth  of  the  ravine 
was  wide  and  scattered  over  with  rocks  and 
bushes,  that  even  projected  for  some  little  space 
into  the  water,  the  latter  vibrating  up  and  down 
in  a  manner  that  proved  the  strength  and  irregu- 
larity of  the  current.  The  river  was  here  bound- 
ed by  frowning  clifts,  from  which,  a  furlong  or 
two  above,  had  fallen  huge  blocks  of  stone  that 
greatly  contracted  its  narrow  channel;  and  among 
these  the  swollen  waters  surged  and  foamed  with 
the  greatest  violence,  producing  that  hollow  roar, 
which  was  so  much  in  keeping  with  the  solitude 
of  the  ruin,  and  so  proper  an  accompaniment  to 
the  growhng  thunder  and  the  wild  yells  of  the 
warriors.  Below  these  massive  obstructions,  and 
opposite  the  mouth  of  the  ravine,  the  channel  had 
expanded  into  a  pool ;  in  which  the  waters  might 
have  regained  their  tranquillity  and  rolled  along 
in  peace,  but  for  the  presence  of  an  island,  which, 
growing  up  in  the  centre  of  the  expanse,  consoli- 
dated by  the  roots  of  a  thousand  willows  and 
other  trees  that  delight  in  such  humid  soils,  and, 
in  times  of  flood,  covered  bv  a  raft  of  drift  timber 


216  x\ICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

entangled  among  its  trees,  presented  a  harrier,  on 
either  side  of  which  the  current  swept  with  speed 
and  fury,  though,  as  it  seemed,  entirely  unopposed 
by  rocks.  In  such  a  current,  as  Roland  thought, 
there  was  nothing  unusually  formidable ;  a  daring 
swimmer  might  easily  make  his  way  to  the  island 
opposite,  where,  if  difficulties  were  presented  by 
the  second  channel,  he  miglit  as  easily  find  shelter 
from  enemies  firing  on  him  froni  the  banks.  He 
gazed  again  on  the  island,  which,  viewed  in  the 
gloom,  revealed  to  his  eyes  only  a  mass  of  sha- 
dowy boughs,  resting  in  peace  and  security.  His 
heart  beat  high  with  hope,  and  he  was  beginning 
to  debate  the  chances  of  success  in  an  attempt  to 
swim  his  party  across  the  channel  on  the  horses, 
when  a  flash  of  lightning,  brighter  than  usual,  dis- 
closed the  fancied  island  a  cluster  of  shaking  tree- 
tops,  whose  trunks,  as  well  as  the  soil  that  sup- 
ported them,  were  buried  fathoms  deep  in  the 
flood.  At  the  same  moment,  he  heard,  coming  on 
a  gust  that  repelled  and  deadened  for  a  time  the 
louder  tumult  from  the  rocks  above,  other  roaring 
sounds,  indicating  the  existence  of  other  rocky 
obstructions  at  the  foot  of  the  island,  among  which, 
as  he  could  now  see,  the  same  flash  having  shown 
him  the  strength  of  the  current  in  the  centre  of 
the  channel,  the  swimmer  must  be  dashed,  who 
failed  to  find  footing  on  the  island. 

''  We  are  imprisoned,  indeed,"  he  muttered,  bit- 
terly;  "  Heaven  itself  has  deserted  us." 

As  he  uttered  these  repining  words,  stooping  to 
dip  the  canteen  with  which  he  was  provided,  in 
the  water,  a  little  canoe,  darting  forward  with  a 
velocity  that  seemed  produced  by  the  combined 
strength  of  the  current  and  the  rower,  shot  sud- 
denly among  the  rocks  and  bushes  at  the  entrance 


NICK  OF  THE  WOOIjS.  217 

of  the  ravine,  wedging  itself  fast  among  them, 
and  a  human  figure  leaped  from  it  to  the  shore. 
The  soldier  started  back  aghast,  as  if  from  a 
dweller  of  another  world;  but  recovering  his 
courage  in  an  instant,  and  not  doubting  that  he 
beheld  in  the  unexpected  visiter  a  Shaw^nee  and 
foe,  who  had  thus  found  means  of  assailing  his 
party  on  the  rear,  he  rushed  upon  tiie  stranger 
with  drawn  sword,  for  he  had  laid  his  rifle  aside, 
and  taking  him  at  a  disadvantage,  while  stooping 
to  drag  the  boat  further  ashore,  he  smote  him 
such  a  blow  over  the  head,  as  brought  him  in- 
stantly to  the  ground,  a  dead  man  to  all  appear- 
ance, since,  while  his  body  fell  upon  the  earth,  his 
head, — or  at  least  a  goodly  portion  of  it,  sliced 
away  by  the  blow, — went  skimming  into  the 
water, 

"  Die,  dog  !"  said  Roland,  as  he  struck  the  blow; 
and  not  content  with  that,  he  clapped  his  foot  on 
the  victim's  breast,  to  give  him  the  coup-de -grace; 
when,  wonder  of  wonders,  the  supposed  Shawnee 
and  dead  man  opened  his  lips,  and  cried  aloud,  in 
good  choice  Salt-River  Enghsh, — "  'Tarnal  death 
to  you,  white  man!  what  are  you  atter?" 

It  was  the  voice,  the  never-to-be-forgotten  voice, 
of  the  captain  of  horse-thieves;  and  as  Roland's 
sword  dropped  from  his  hand  in  the  surprise,  up 
rose  Roaring  Ralph  himself,  his  eyes  rolling,  as 
Roland  saw  by  a  second  flash  of  lightning,  with 
thrice  their  usual  obliquity,  his  left  hand  scratch- 
ing among  the  locks  of  hair  exposed  by  the  blow 
of  the  sabre,  which  had  carried  oft'  a  huge  slice 
of  his  hat,  w^ithout  doing  other  mischief,  while  his 
right  brandished  a  rifle,  which  he  handled  as  if 
about  to  repay  the  favour  with  interest.  But  the 
same   flash  that   revealed   his    visage  to  tiie  as- 

VOL.  I. — 19 


218  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

tonished  soldier,  disclosed  also  Roland's  features 
to  him,  and  he  fairly  yelled  with  joy  at  the  sight. 
"  'Tarnal  death  to  me !"  he  roared,  first  leaping 
into  the  air  and  cracking  his  heels  together,  then 
snatching  at  Roland's  hand,  which  he  clutched  and 
twisted  with  the  gripe  of  a  bear,  and  then  crack- 
ing his  heels  together  again,  "  'tarnal  death  to  me, 
sodger,  but  I  know'd  it  war  you  war  in  a  squabbli- 
lication  !  I  heerd  the  cracking  and  the  squeaking ; 
"Tarnal  death  to  me  !'  says  I, '  thar's  Injuns  !'  And 
then  I  thought,  and  says  I,  '  'Tarnal  death  to  me, 
Avho  are  they  atter?  and  then,  'tarnal  death  to 
me,  it  came  over  me  like  a  strick  of  lightning,  and 
says  I,  '  'Tarnal  death  to  me,  but  it 's  anngellifer- 
ous  madam  that  holped  me  out  of  the  halter !' 
Strannger!"  he  roared,  executing  another  demi- 
volte,  "h'yar  am  I,  come  to  do  anngelliferous 
madam's  fighting  agin  all  critturs  human  and  in- 
human. Christian  and  Injun,  white,  red,  black,  and 
party-coloured.  Show  me  angelliferous  madam, 
and  then  show  me  the  abbregynes ;  and  if  you  ever 
seed  fighting,  'tarnal  death  to  me,  but  you  '11  say 
it  war  only  the  squabbling  of  seed-ticks  and  blue- 
bottle flies  !  I  say,  sodger,  show  me  anngelliferous 
madam:  you  cut  the  halter  and  you  cut  the 
tug ;  but  it  war  madam  the  anngel  that  set  you 
on:  wharfo',  I'm  her  dog  and  her  niggur  from 
now  to  etarnity,  and  I'm  come  to  fight  for  her, 
and  lick  her  enemies  till  you  shall  see  nothing  left 
of  'em  but  ha'rs  and  nails !" 

Of  these  expressions,  uttered  with  extreme  volu- 
bility and  the  most  extravagant  gestures,  Roland 
took  no  notice;  his  astonishment  at  the  horse- 
thief's  appearance  was  giving  way  to  new  thoughts 
and  hopes,  and  he  eagerly  demanded  of  Ralph 
how  he  had  got  there. 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  219 

"  In  the  dug-out,"*  said  Ralph ;  "  found  her 
floating  among  the  bushes,  ax'd  me  out  a  flopperf 
with  my  tom-axe  in  no  time,  jumped  in,  thought 
of  angeUiferous  madam,  and  came  down  the  falls 
like  a  cob  in  a  corn-van — ar'n't  I  the  leaping  trout 
of  the  waters?  Strannger,  I  don't  want  to  sw'ar; 
but  I  reckon  if  there  ar'n't  hell  up  thar  among 
the  big  stones,  thar's  hell  no  other  whar  all  about 
Salt  River !  But  I  say,  sodger,  I  came  here  not  to 
talk  nor  cavort,{  but  to  show  that  I'm  the  man, 
Ralph  Stackpole,  to  die  dog  for  them  that  pats  me. 
So,  whar's  anngelliferous  madam?  Let  me  see 
her,  sodger,  that  I  may  feel  W'olfish  when  I  jumps 
among  the  red-skins;  'for  I'm  all  for  a  fight,  and 
thar  ar'n't  no  run  in  me." 

*'  It  is  well  indeed,  if  it  shall  prove  so,"  said  Ro- 
land, not  without  bitterness ;  "  for  it  is  to  you 
alone  we  owe  all  our  misfortune^.'' 

With  these  words,  he  led  the  way  to  the  place, 
where,  among  the  horses,  concealed  among  bram- 
bles and  stones,  lay  the  unfortunate  females,  cow- 
ering on  the  bare  earth.  The  pale  sheets  of  light- 
ning, flashing  now  with  greater  frequency,  re- 
vealed them  to  Ralph's  eyes,  a  ghastly  and 
melancholy  pair,  whose  situation  and  appearance 
were  well  fitted  to  move  the  feelings  of  a  manly 
bosom;  Edith  lying  almost  insensible  across  Telie's 
knees,  while  the  latter,  weeping  bitterly,  yet  seem- 
ed striving  to  forget  her  own  distresses,  while  mi- 
nistering to  those  of  her  companion. 

"  'Tarnal  death  to  me  !"  cried  Stackpole,  look- 
ing upon  Edith's  pallid  visage  and  rayless  eyes 


*  Dug-out, — a  canoe, — because  dug  out,  or  hollowed,  with 
the  axe. 

f  Flapper, — a  flapper,  a  paddle. 

t  Cavort, — to  play  pranks,  to  g-asconade. 


22€^  NfCK  OF  THE  WOODS, 

with  more  emotion  than  would  have  been  expect- 
ed from  his  rude  character,  or  than  was  express- 
ed in  his  uncouth  phrases,  "  if  that  don't  make 
me  eat  a  niggur,  may  I  be  tetotaciously  chawed 
up  myself!  Oh,  you  anngclliferous  madam!  jist 
look  up  and  say  the  word,  for  I'm  now  ready  to 
mount  a  w  ild-cat :  jist  look  up,  and  don't  make  a 
die  of  it,  for  thar's  no  occasion  :  for  ar'n^t  I  your 
niggur-slave,  Ralph  Stackpole  'i  and  ar'n't  I  come 
to  lick  all  that's  agin  you,  Mingo,  Shawnee,  Dela- 
ware, and  all !  Oh,  you  anngelliferous  crittur  l 
don't  swound  away,  but  look  up,  and  see  how  I'll 
wallop  'em  !^ 

And  here  the  worthy  horse-thief,  seeing  that 
his  exhortations  produced  no  effect  upon  the  ap- 
parently dying  Edith,  dropped  upon  his  knees-, 
and  began  to  blubber  and  lament  over  her,  as  if 
overcome  by  his  feelings,  promising  her  a  world 
of  Indian  scaJps^  and  a  whole  Salt-river-full  of 
Shawnee  blood,  if  she  would  only  look  up  and 
see  how  he  went  about  it. 

**  Show  your  gratitude  by  actions,  not  by 
words,"  said  Roland,  who,  whatever  his  cause  for 
disliking  the  zealous  Ralph,  was  not  unrejoiced  at 
his  presence,  as  that  of  a  valuable  auxiliary  :  "  rise 
up,  and  tell  me,  in  the  name  of  heaven,  how  you 
succeeded  in  reaching  this  place,  and  what  hope 
there  is  of  leaving  it  ?" 

But  Ralph  was  too  much  afflicted  by  the 
wretched  condition  of  Edith,  whom  his  gratitude 
for  the  life  she  had  bestowed  had  made  the 
mistress  paramount  of  his  soul,  to  give  much  heed 
to  any  one  but  herself;  and  it  was  only  by  dint  of 
hard  questioning  that  Roland  drew  from  him, 
little  by  little,  an  account  of  the  causes  which  had 
kept  him  in  the  vicinity  of  the  travellers,  and 
finally  brought  him  to  the  scene  of  combat. 


I 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  221 

It  had  been,  it  appeared,  an  eventful  and  un- 
lucky day  with  the  horse-thief,  as  well  as  the  sol- 
dier. Aside  from  his  adventure  on  the  beech-tree, 
enough  in  all  truth  to  mark  the  day  for  him  with 
a  black  stone,  he  had  been  peculiarly  unfortunate 
with  the  horses  to  which  he  had  so  unceremo- 
niously helped  himself.  The  gallant  Briareus, 
after  sundry  trials  of  strength  with  his  new  mas- 
ter, had  at  last  succeeded  in  throwing  him  from 
his  back ;  and  the  two-year-old  pony,  after  obey- 
ing him  the  whole  day  with  the  docility  of  a 
dog,  even  when  the  halter  was  round  his  neck, 
and  carrying  him  in  safety  until  within  a  few 
miles  of  Jackson's  Station,  had  attempted  the 
same  exploit,  and  succeeded,  galloping  off  on  the 
back-track  towards  his  home.  This  second  loss 
was  the  more  intolerable,  since  Stackpole,  hav- 
ing endured  the  penalty  for  stealing  him,  consi- 
dered himself  as  having  a  legal.  Lynch-like  right 
to  the  animal,  which  no  one  could  now  dispute.  He 
therefore  returned  in  pursuit  of  the  pony,  until  night 
arrested  his  footsteps  on  the  banks  of  the  river, 
which,  the  waters  still  rising,  he  did  not  care  to 
cross  in  the  dark.  He  had  therefore  built  a  fire 
by  the  road-side,  intending  to  camp-out  till  morn- 
ing. 

"  And  it  was  your  fire,  then,  that  checked  us  ?" 
cried  Roland,  at  this  part  of  the  story, — "it  was 
your  light  we  took  for  the  watch-fire  of  Indians  ?" 

"  Injuns  you  may  say,"  quoth  Stackpole,  inno- 
cently; "for  thar  war  a  knot  of  'em  I  seed 
sneaking  over  the  ford :  and  jist  as  I  was  squint- 
ing a  long  aim  at  'em,  hoping  I  might  smash  two 
of  'em  at  a  lick,  slam-bang  goes  a  feller  that  had 
got  behind  me,  'tarnal  death  to  him,  and  roused 
me  out  of  my  snuggery.  Well,  sodger,  then  I 
jumps  into  the  cane,  and  next  into  the  timber ; 
19* 


223  KICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

for  I  reckoned  all  Injun  creation  war  atter  me- 
And  so  I  sticks  fast  in  a  lick  ;  and  then,  to  sum- 
totalize,  I  wallops  down  a  rock,  eend  foremost, 
like  a  bull-toad :  and,  'tarnal  death  to  me,  while 
I  war  scratching  my  head,  and  wondering  whar 
I  came  from,  I  heerd  the  crack  of  the  guns 
across  the  river,  and  thought  of  anngelliferous 
madam.  'Tarnal  death  to  me,  sodger,  it  turned 
me  wrong  side  out!  and  while  I  w^ar  axing  all 
natur'  how  I  war  to  get  over,  what  should  I  do 
but  see  the  old  sugar-trough  floating  in  the 
bushes, — I  seed  her  in  a  strick  of  hghtning.  So 
pops  I  in,  and  paddles  I  down,  till  I  comes  to  the 
rocks, — and  ar'nt  they  beauties?  *H*yar  goes  for 
grim  death  and  massacreeation,'  says  I,  and  tuck 
the  shoot;  and  if  I  didn't  fetch  old  dug-out 
through  slicker  than  snakes,  and  faster  than  a 
well -greased  thunderbolt,  niggurs  ar'n't  niggursy 
nor  Injuns  Injuns  :  and,  strannger,  if  you  axes  me 
why,  h'yar's  the  wharfo' — 'twar  because  I  thought 
of  anngelliferous  madam!  Strannger,  I  am  the 
gentleman  to  see  her  out  of  a  fight ;  and  so  jist 
tell  her  thar's  no  occasion  for  being  uneasy;  for, 
'tarnal  death  to  me,  I'll  mount  Shawnees,  and  die 
for  her,  jist  like  nothing." 

"Wretch  that  you  are,"  cried  Roland,  whose 
detestation  of  the  unlucky  cause  of  his  troubles,  re- 
vived by  the  discovery  that  it  was  to  his  presence 
at  the  ford  they  owed  their  last  and  most  fatal 
disappointment,  rendered  him  somewhat  insensible 
to  the  good  feelings  and  courage  which  had 
brought  the  grateful  fellow  to  his  assistance, — 
"  you  were  born  for  our  destruction  ;  every  way 
you  have  proved  our  ruin  :  but  for  you,  my  poor 
kinswoman  would  have  been  now  in  safety 
among  her  friends.  Had  she  left  you  hanging  on 
the  beech,  vou  would  not  have  been  on  the  river. 


JflCK  or  THE  WOODS.  223 

to  cut  off  her  only  escape,  when  pursued  close  at 
hand  by  murderous  savages." 

The  reproach,  now  for  the  first  time  acquaint- 
ing Stackpole  with  the  injury  he  had,  though  so 
unintentionally  and  innocently,  inflicted  upon  his 
benefactress ;  and  the  sight  of  her,  lying  appar- 
ently half-dead  at  his  feet,  wrought  up  the  feelings 
of  the  worthy  horse-thief  to  a  pitch  of  desperate 
compunction,  mingled  with  fury. 

"  If  Tm  the  crittur  that  holped  her  into  the  fix, 
I'm  the  crittur  to  holp  her  out  of  it.  'Tarnal 
death  to  me,  whar's  the  Injuns'?  H'yar  goes  to 
eat  'em !" 

With  that,  he  uttered  a  yell, — the  first  human 
cry  that  had  been  uttered  for  some  time,  for  the 
assailants  were  still  resting  on  their  arms,— ^and 
rushing  up  the  ravine,  as  if  well  acquainted  with 
the  localities  of  the  Station,  he  ran  to  the  ruin, 
repeating  his  cries  at  every  step,  with  a  loudness 
and  vigour  of  tone  that  soon  drew  a  response 
from  the  lurking  enemy. 

"  H'yar,  you  'tarnal-temporal,  long-legged,  'ta- 
ter-headed,  paint-faces !"  he  roared,  leaping  from 
the  passage  floor  to  the  pile  of  ruins  before  the 
door  of  the  hovel,  (where  Emperor  yet  lay  en- 
sconced, and  whither  Roland  followed  him,)  as  if 
in  utter  defiance  of  the  foemen  w^hom  he  hailed 
with  such  opprobrious  epithets, — "  h'yar,  you  bald- 
head,  smoke-dried,  punkin-eating,  red-skins!  you 
half-niggurs  !  you  'coon-whelps  I  you  snakes  !  you 
varmints!  you  raggamuffins  w-hat  goes  about 
licking  women  and  children,  and  scar'ring  anngel- 
liferous  madam !  git  up  and  show  your  scalp- 
locks;  for  'tarnal  death  to  me,  I'm  the  man  to 
take  'em — cock-a-doodle-doo  !'' — 

And  the  valiant  horse-thief  concluded  his  war- 
like defiance   with   such  a  crow  as  might  have 


224  MCK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

struck  consternation  to  the  heart  not  merely  of 
the  best  game-cock  in  Kentucky,  but  to  the  bird 
of  Jove  itself.  Great  was  the  excitement  it  pro- 
duced among  the  warriors.  A  furious  hubbub 
was  heard  to  arise  among  them,  followed  by  many 
wrathful  voices  exclaiming  in  broken  English, 
with  eager  haste,  "Know  him  dah !  cuss'  rascal ! 
Cappin  Stackpole  l^steal  Injun  boss!"  And  the 
'  steal  Injun  boss !'  iterated  and  reiterated  by  a 
dozen  voices,  and  always  with  the  most  iracund 
emphasis,  enabled  Roland  to  form  a  proper  con- 
ception of  the  sense  in  which  his  enemies  held 
that  offence,  as  well  as  of  the  great  merits  and 
wide-spread  fame  of  his  new  ally,  whose  mere 
voice  had  thrown  the  red-men  into  such  a  fer- 
ment. 

But  it  was  not  with  words  alone  they  vented  their 
displeasure.  Rifle-shots  and  execrations  were  dis- 
charged together  against  the  notorious  enemy  of 
their  pinfolds ;  who,  nothing  daunted,  and  nothing 
loath,  let  fly  his  own  '  speechifier,'  as  he  denomi- 
nated his  rifle,  in  return,  accompanying  the  salute 
with  divers  yells  and  maledictions,  in  which  lat- 
ter, he  showed  himself,  to  say  the  truth,  infinitely 
superior  to  his  antagonists.  He  would  even,  so 
great  and  fervent  was  his  desire  to  fight  the  bat- 
tles of  his  benefactress  to  advantage,  have  retain- 
ed his  exposed  stand  on  the  pile  of  ruins,  daring 
every  bullet,  had  not  Roland  dragged  him  down 
by  main  force,  and  compelled  him  to  seek  a  shel- 
ter like  the  rest,  from  which,  however,  he  carried 
on  the  war,  loading  and  firing  his  piece  with  won- 
derful rapidity,  and  yelling  and  roaring  all  the 
time  with  triumphant  fury,  as  if  reckoning  upon 
every  shot  to  bring  down  an  enemy. 

But  it  was  not  many  minutes  before  Roland  be- 
gan to  fear  that  the  fatality  which  had  marked 


MCK  OF  THE  WOODS.  225 

all  his  relations  with  the  intrepid  horse-thief,  had 
not  yet  lost  its  influence,  and  that  Stackpole's  pre- 
sent assistance  was  any  thing  but  advantageous 
to  his  cause.  It  seemed,  indeed,  as  if  the  savages 
had  been  driven  to  increased  rage  by  the  dis- 
covery of  his  presence;  and  that  the  hope  of  cap- 
turing him,  the  most  daring  and  inveterate  of  all 
the  hungerers  after  Indian  horse-flesh,  and  re- 
quiting his  manifold  transgressions  on  the  spot, 
had  infused  into  them  new  spirit  and  fiercer  de- 
termination. Their  fire  became  more  vigorous, 
their  shouts  more  wild  and  ferocious :  those  who 
had  eftected  a  lodgment  among  the  ruins  crept 
nigher,  while  others  appeared,  dealing  their  shots 
from  other  quarters  close  at  hand ;  and,  in  fine, 
the  situation  of  his  little  party  became  so  preca- 
rious, that  Roland,  apprehending  every  moment  a 
general  assault,  and  despairing  of  being  again 
able  to  repel  it,  drew  them  secretly  off*  from  the 
ruin,  which  he  abandoned  entirely,  and  took  re- 
fuge among  the  rocks  at  the  head  of  the  ravine. 

It  was  then, — while,  unconscious  of  the  sudden 
evacuation  of  the  hovel,  but  not  doubting  they 
had  driven  the  defenders  into  its  interior,  the 
enemy  poured  in  half  a  dozen  or  more  volleys,  as 
preliminaries  to  the  assault  which  the  soldier  ap- 
prehended,— that  he  turned  to  the  unlucky  Ralph; 
and  arresting  him  as  he  was  about  to  fire  upon 
the  foe  from  his  new  cover,  demanded,  with  much 
agitation,  if  it  were  not  possible  to  transport 
the  hapless  females  in  the  little  canoe,  which  his 
mind  had  often  reverted  to  as  a  probable  means 
of  escape,  to  a  place  of  safety. 

«  'Tarnal  death  to  me,"  said  Ralph,  "  thar's  a 
boiling-pot  above  and  a  boiling-pot  below ;  but 
ar'n't  I  the  crittur  to  shake  old  Salt  by  the  fo'- 


226  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

paw?  Can  take  anngelliferous  madam  down  ar  a 
shoot  that  war  ever  seed !" 

"  And  why,  in  Heaven's  name,"  cried  the  Vir- 
ginian, "  did  you  not  say  so  before,  and  reUeve 
her  from  this  liorrible  situation  ?" 

"  'Tarnal  death  to  me,  ar'n't  I  to  do  her  fighting 
first?"  demanded  the  honest  Ralph.  "  Jist  let's 
have  another  crack  at  the  villians,  jist  for  madam's 
satisfaction ;  and  then,  sodger,  if  you're  for  taking 
the  shoot,  I'm  jist  the  salmon  to  show  you  the 
way.  But  I  say,  sodger,  I  won't  lie,"  he  continued, 
finding  Roland  was  bent  upon  instant  escape,  while 
the  savages  were  yet  unaware  of  their  flight  from 
the  hovel, — "  I  won't  lie,  sodger ; — thar's  rather  a 
small  trough  to  hold  madam  and  the  gal,  and  me 
and  you  and  the  niggur  and  the  white  man ;" — 
(for  Stackpole  was  already  acquainted  with  the 
number  of  the  party ;) — "  and  as  for  the  bosses, 
'twill  be  all  crucifixion  to  git  'em  through  old 
Salt's  fingers." 

"  Think  not  of  horses,  nor  of  us,"  said  Roland. 
"  Save  but  the  women,  and  it  will  be  enough.  For 
the  rest  of  us,  we  will  do  our  best.  We  can  keep 
the  hollow  till  we  are  relieved ;  for,  if  Nathan  be 
alive,  relief  must  be  now  on  the  way."  And  in  a 
few  hurried  words,  he  acquainted  Stackpole  wath 
his  having  despatched  the  man  of  peace  to  seek 
assistance. 

"  Thar's  no  trusting  the  crittur.  Bloody  Na- 
than," said  Ralph ;  "  though  at  a  close  hug,  a 
squeeze  on  the  small  ribs,  or  a  kick-up  of  heels, 
he's  all  splendiferous.  Afore  you  see  his  ugly  pic- 
tur'  a'gin,  'tarnal  death  to  me,  strannger,  you'll  be 
devoured ; — the  red  niggurs  thar  won't  make  two 
bites  at  you.  No,  sodger, — if  we  run,  we  run, — 
thar's  the  principle ;  we  takes  the  water,  the  whole 
herd  together,  niggurs,  bosses  and  all,  partickelar- 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  227 

\y  the  hosses ;  for,  'tarnal  death  to  me,  it's  agin 
my  conscience  to  leave  so  much  as  a  hoof.  And 
so,  sodger,  if  you  conscientiously  thinks  thar  has 
been  walloping  enough  done  on  both  sides,  I'm 
jistthe  man  to  help  you  all  out  of  the  bobbery; — 
though,  cuss  me,  you  might  as  w^ell  have  cut  me 
out  of  the  beech  without  so  much  hard  axing !" 

These  words  of  the  worthy  horse-thief,  uttered 
as  hurriedly  as  his  own,  but  far  more  coolly,  ani- 
mated the  spirits  of  the  young  soldier  with  double 
hope;  and  taking  advantage  of  the  busy  intent- 
ness  with  which  the  enemy  still  poured  their  fire 
into  the  ruin,  he  despatched  Ralph  down  the  ra- 
vine, to  prepare  the  canoe  for  the  women,  while 
he  himself  summoned  Dodge  and  Emperor  to 
make  an  effort  for  their  own  deliverance. 


228  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 


The  roar  of  the  river,  alternating  with  peals  of 
thunder,  which  were  now  loud  and  frequent, 
awoke  many  an  anxious  pang  in  Roland's  bosom, 
as  he  lifted  his  half  unconscious  kinswoman  from 
the  earth,  and  bore  her  to  the  canoe;  but  his 
anxiety  was  much  more  increased,  when  he  came 
to  survey  the  little  vessel  itself,  which  was  scarce 
twelve  feet  in  length,  and  seemed  ill  fitted  to  sus- 
tain the  weight  of  even  half  the  party.  It  was, 
besides,  of  the  clumsiest  and  worst  possible  figure, 
a  mere  log,  in  fact,  roughly  hollowed  out,  without 
any  attempt  having  been  made  to  point  its  extre- 
mities ;  so  that  it  looked  less  like  a  canoe  than  an 
ox-trough ;  which  latter  purpose  it  was  perhaps 
designed  chiefly  to  serve,  and  intended  to  be  used 
for  the  former  only  when  an  occasional  rise  of 
the  waters  might  make  a  canoe  necessary  to  the 
convenience  of  the  maker.  Such  a  vessel,  man- 
aged by  a  skilful  hand,  might  indeed  bear  the  two 
females,  with  honest  Ralph,  through  the  foaming 
rapids  below ;  but  Roland  felt,  that  to  burthen  it 
with  others  would  be  to  insure  the  destruction  of 
all.  He  resolved,  therefore,  that  no  others  should 
enter  it ;  and,  having  deposited  Telie  Doe  in  it  by 
the  side  of  Edith,  he  directed  Dodge  and  Empe- 
ror,  to   mount  their   horses,  and   trust   to  their 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  229 

strength  and  courage  for  a  safe  escape.  To  Em- 
peror, whatever  distaste  he  might  have  for  the  ad- 
venture, this  was  an  order,  Hke  all  others,  to  be 
obeyed  without  murmuring ;  and,  fortunately, 
Pardon  Dodge's  humanity,  or  his  discretion,  was 
so  strongly  fortified  by  his  confidence  in  the 
swimming  virtues  of  his  steed,  that  he  very  readi- 
ly agreed  to  try  his  fortune  on  horseback. 

"  Any  thing  to  git  round  them  everlasting  var- 
mint,— though  it  a'n't  no  sich  great  circumstance 
to  fight  'em,  neither,  where  one  's  a  kinder  got 
one's  hand  in,"  he  cried,  with  quite  a  joyous 
voice ;  and  added,  as  if  to  encourage  the  others, — 
"  it's  my  idea,  that,  if  such  an  old  crazy  boat  can 
swim  the  river,  a  boss  can  do  it  a  mortal  heap 
better." 

"  'Tarnal  death  to  me,"  said  Ralph  Stackpole, 
"  them  's  got  the  grit  that  '11  go  down  old  Salt  on 
horseback !  But  it  's  all  for  the  good  of  anngellife- 
rous  madam :  and,  so,  if  thar's  any  hard  rubbing, 
or  drowning,  or  any  thing  of  that  synonimous  na- 
tur',  to  happen,  it  ar'n't  a  thing  to  be  holped  no 
how.  But  hand  in  the  guns  and  speechifiers,  and 
make  ready  for  a  go  ;  for,  'tarnal  death  to  me,  the 
abbregynes  ar'  making  a  rush  for  the  cabin !" 

There  was  indeed  little  time  left  for  delibera- 
tion. While  Ralph  was  yet  speaking,  a  dozen  or 
more  flaming  brands  were  suddenly  seen  flung 
into  the  air,  as  if  against  the  broken  roof  of  the 
cabin,  through  which  they  fell  into  the  interior; 
and,  with  a  tremendous  whoop,  the  savages,  thus 
lighting  the  way  to  the  assault,  rushed  against 
their  fancied  prey.  The  next  moment,  there  was 
heard  a  yell  of  disappointed  rage  and  wonder, 
followed  by  a  rush  of  men  into  the  ravine. 

"  Now,  sodger,"  cried  Ralph,  "  stick  close  to 

VOL.  I  —20 


230  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

the  trough ;  and  if  you  ever  seed  etarnity  at  mid- 
night, you  "11  sec  a  small  sample  now !" 

With  that,  he  pushed  the  canoe  into  the  stream, 
and  Roland  urging  his  terrified  steed  with  voice 
and  spur,  and  leading  his  cousin's  equally  alarmed 
palfry,  leaped  in  after  him,  calhng  to  Dodge  and 
Emperor  to  follow\  But  how  they  followed,  or 
whether  they  followed  at  all,  it  was  not  easy  at 
that  moment  to  determine ;  for  a  bright  flash  of 
lightning,  glaring  over  the  river,  vanished  sud- 
denly, leaving  all  in  double  darkness,  and  the  im- 
petuous rush  of  the  current  whirled  him  he  knew 
not  whither ;  while  the  crash  of  the  thunder  that 
followed,  prevented  his  hearing  any  other  noise, 
save  the  increasing  and  never  absent  roar  of  the 
waters.  Another  flash  illuminated  the  scene,  and 
during  its  short-lived  radiance  he  perceived  him- 
self flying,  as  it  almost  seemed,  through  the  water, 
borne  along  by  a  furious  current  betwixt  what 
appeared  to  him  two  lofty  walls  of  crag  and  forest, 
towards  those  obstructions  in  the  channel,  which, 
in  times  of  flood,  converted  the  whole  river  into  a 
boiling  caldron.  They  were  masses  of  rock, 
among  which  had  lodged  rafts  of  drift  timber, 
forming  a  dam  or  barrier  on  either  side  of  the 
river,  from  which  the  descending  floods  were 
whirled  into  a  central  channel,  ample  enough  in 
the  dry  season  to  discharge  the  waters  in  quiet,  but 
through  which  they  were  now  driven  with  all  the 
hurry  and  rage  of  a  torrent.  The  scene,  viewed 
in  the  momentary  glare  of  the  lightning,  was 
indeed  terrific :  the  dark  and  rugged  walls  on 
either  side,  the  ramparts  of  timber  of  every  shape 
and  size,  from  the  little  willow  sapling  to  the  full 
grown  sycamore,  piled  high  above  the  rocks,  and 
ihe  rushing  gulf  betwixt  them,  made  up  a  specta- 
cle sufficient  to  appal  the  stoutest  heart;   and  Ro- 


1 


mcK  or  THE  WOODS.  231 

land  gasped  for  breath,  as  he  beheld  the  Httle 
canoe  whirl  into  the  narrow  chasm,  and  then 
vanish,  even  before  the  light  was  over,  as  if  swal- 
lowed up  in  its  boiling  vortex. 

But  there  was  little  time  for  fear  or  conjecture. 
He  cast  the  rein  oF  the  palfry  from  his  hand, 
directed  Briareus's  head  towards  the  abyss,  and 
the  next  moment,  sweeping  in  darkness  and  witli 
the  speed  of  an  arrow,  betwixt  the  barriers,  he 
felt  his  charger  swimming  beneath  him  in  com- 
paratively tranquil  waters.  Another  flash  illu- 
mined hill  and  river,  and  he  beheld  the  little  canoe 
dancing  along  in  safety,  scarce  fifty  yards  in  ad- 
vance, with  Stackpole  waving  the  tattered  frag- 
ments of  his  hat  aloft,  and  yelling  out  a  note  of 
triumph.  But  the  lusty  hurrah  w^as  unheard  by 
the  soldier.  A  more  dreadful  sound  came  to  his 
ears  from  behind,  in  a  shriek  that  seemed  uttered 
by  the  combined  voices  of  men  and  horses,  and 
was  heard  even  above  the  din  of  the  torrent.  But 
it  was  as  momentary  as  dreadful,  and  if  a  cry  of 
agony,  it  was  of  agony  that  was  soon  over.  Its 
fatal  cause  was  soon  exhibited,  when  Roland, 
awakened  by  the  sound  from  the  trance,  which, 
during  the  brief  moment  of  his  passage  through 
the  abyss,  had  chained  his  faculties,  turned,  by  a 
violent  jerk,  the  head  of  his  charger  up  the  stream, 
in  the  instinctive  effort  to  render  assistance  to  his 
less  fortunate  followers.  A  fainter  flash  than  be- 
fore played  upon  the  waters,  and  he  beheld  two  or 
three  dark  masses,  like  the  bodies  of  horses,  hur- 
ried by  among  the  waves,  whilst  another  of  lesser 
bulk  and  human  form  suddenly  rose  from  the 
depth  of  the  stream  at  his  side.  This  he  instantly 
grasped  in  his  hand,  and  dragged  half  across  his 
saddle-bow,  w^hen  a  broken,  strangling  exclama- 
tion, "Lorra-g — g — gor !"  made  him  aware  that  he 


232  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

had  saved  the  hfe  of  the  faithful  Emperor.  "  Ckuch 
fast  to  the  saddle,"  he  cried ;  and  the  negro  obey- 
ing with  another  ejaculation,  the  soldier  turned 
Briareus  again  down  the  stream,  to  look  for  the 
canoe.  But  almost  immediately  his  charger  struck 
the  ground  ;  and  Roland,  to  his  inexpressible  joy, 
found  himself  landed  upon  a  projecting  bank,  on 
w^hich  the  current  had  already  swept  tlie  canoe, 
with  its  precious  freight,  unharmed. 

*'  If  that  ar'n't  equal  to  coming  down  a  strick 
of  lightning,"  cried  Roaring  Ralph,  as  he  helped 
the  soldier  from  the  water,  "  thar's  no  legs  to  a 
jumping  bull-frog  I  Smash  away,  old  Salt!"  he 
continued,  apostrophizing  with  great  exultation 
and  self-admiration,  the  river  whose  terrors  he 
had  thus  so  successfully  defied  ;  "  ar'n't  I  the  gen- 
tleman for  you?  Roar  as  much  as  you  cussed 
please; — when  it  comes  to  fighting  for  anngelUfe- 
rous  madam,  I  can  lick  you,  old  Salt,  'tarnal  death 
to  me !  And  so,  anngelliferous  madam,  don't  you 
car'  a  copper  for  the  old  crittur';  for  thar's  more 
in  his  bark  than  his  bite.  And  as  for  the  abbre- 
gynes,  if  I've  font  'em  enough  for  your  satisfac- 
tion, we  '11  jist  say  good-by  to  'em,  and  leave  'em 
to  take  the  scalp  oflf  old  Salt." 

The  consolation  thus  oflfered  by  the  w'orthy  cap- 
tain of  horse-thieves  was  lost  upon  Edith,  who, 
locked  in  the  arms  of  her  kinsman,  and  sensible 
of  her  escape  from  the  horrid  danger  that  had  so 
long  surrounded  her,  sensible  also  of  the  peril 
from  which  he  had  just  been  released,  wept  her 
terrors  away  upon  his  breast,  and  for  a  moment 
almost  forgot  that  her  suflferings  were  not  yet 
over. 

It  was  only  for  an  instant  that  the  young  soldier 
indulged  his  joy.  He  breathed  a  few  words  of 
comfort  and  encouragement,  and  then  turned  to 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  233 

inquire  after  Dodge,  whose  gallant  bearing  in  the 
hour  of  danger  had  conquered  the  disgust  he  first 
felt  at  his  cowardice,  and  won  upon  his  gratitude 
and  respect.  But  the  Yankee  appeared  not,  and 
the  loud  calls  Roland  made  for  him  were  echoed 
only  by  the  hoarse  roar  from  the  barriers,  now 
left  far  behind,  and  the  thunder  that  yet  pealed 
through  the  sky.  Nor  could  Emperor,  when  re- 
stored a  little  to  his  wits,  which  had  been  greatly 
disturbed  by  his  own  perils  in  the  river,  give  any 
satisfactory  account  of  his  fate.  He  could  only 
remember  that  the  current  had  borne  himself 
against  the  logs,  under  w^hich  he  had  been  swept, 
and  whirled  he  knew  not  whither,  until  he  found 
himself  in  the  arms  of  his  master;  and  Dodge, 
who  had  rushed  before  him  into  the  flood,  he  sup- 
posed, had  met  a  similar  fate,  but  without  the 
happy  termination  that  marked  his  own. 

That  the  Yankee  had  indeed  found  his  death 
among  the  roaring  waters,  Roland  could  well  be- 
lieve, the  wonder  only  being  how  the  rest  had 
escaped  in  safety.  Of  the  five  horses,  three  only 
had  reached  the  bank,  Briareus  and  the  palfry, 
which  had  fortunately  followed  Roland  down  the 
middle  of  the  chasm,  and  the  horse  of  the  unlucky 
Pardon.  The  others  had  been  either  drowned 
among  the  logs,  or  swept  down  the  stream. 

A  few  moments  sufficed  to  acquaint  Roland 
with  these  several  losses ;  but  he  took  little  time  to 
lament  them.  The  deliverance  of  his  party  was 
not  yet  wholly  effected,  and  every  moment  was  to 
be  improved,  to  put  it,  before  daylight,  beyond  the 
reach  of  pursuit.  The  captain  of  horse-thieves 
avouched  himself  able  to  lead  the  way  from  the 
wilderness,  to  conduct  the  travellers  to  a  safe  ford 
below,  ard  thence,  through  the  woods,  to  the  ren- 
dezvous of  the  emigrants. 
20* 


234  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

"  Let  it  be  anywhere,"  said  Roland,  ''  where 
there  is  safety ;  and  let  us  not  delay  a  moment 
longer.  Our  remaining  here  can  avail  nothing  to 
poor  Dodge." 

With  these  w^ords,  he  assisted  his  kinswoman 
upon  her  palfry,  placed  Telle  Doe  upon  the  horse 
of  the  unfortunate  Yankee,  and  giving  up  his  own 
Briareus  to  the  exhausted  negro,  prepared  to  re- 
sume his  ill-starred  journey  on  foot.  Then,  taking 
post  on  the  rear,  he  gave  the  signal  to  his  new 
guide ;  and  once  more  the  travellers  w^ere  buried 
in  the  intricacies  of  the  forest. 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  235 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


It  was  at  a  critical  period  when  the  travellers  ef- 
fected their  escape  from  the  scene  of  their  late 
sufferings.  The  morning  was  already  drawing 
nigh,  and  might,  but  for  the  heavy  clouds  that 
prolonged  the  night  of  terror,  have  been  seen 
shooting  its  first  streaks  through  the  eastern  skies. 
Another  half  hour,  if  for  that  half  hour  they 
could  have  maintained  their  position  in  the  ra- 
vine, would  have  seen  them  exposed  in  all  their 
helplessness  to  the  gaze,  and  to  the  fire  of  the  de- 
termined foe.  It  became  them  to  improve  the 
few  remaining  moments  of  darkness,  and  to  make 
such  exertions  as  might  put  them,  before  dawn, 
beyond  the  reach  of  discovery  or  pursuit. 

Exertions  were,  accordingly,  made;  and,  al- 
though man  and  horse  w^ere  alike  exhausted,  and 
the  thick  brakes  and  oozy  swamps  through  which 
Roaring  Ralph  led  the  way,  opposed  a  thousand 
obstructions  to  rapid  motion,  they  had  left  the 
fatal  ruin  at  least  two  miles  behind  them,  or  so 
honest  Stackpole  averred,  when  the  day  at  last 
broke  over  the  forest.  To  add  to  the  satisfaction 
of  the  fugitives,  it  broke  in  unexpected  splendour. 
The  clouds  parted,  and,  as  the  floating  masses 
rolled  lazily  away  before  a  pleasant  morning 
breeze,  they  were  seen  lighted  up  and  tinted  with 
a  thousand  glorious  dyes  of  sunshine. 

The  appearance  of  the  great  luminary  was  hail- 
ed with  joy,  as  the  omen  of  a  happier  fate  than 
had  been  heralded  by  the  clouds  and  storms  of 
evening.  Smiles  began  to  beam  from  the  haggard 
and  care-worn  visages  of  the  travellers;  the  very 


36  NICK  OP  THE  WOODS. 

horses  seemed  to  feel  the  inspiring  influence  of 
the  change ;  and  as  for  Roaring  Ralph,  the  sight 
of  his  beautiful  benefactress  recovering  her  good 
looks,  and  the  exulting  consciousness  that  it  was 
Ids  hand  which  had  snatched  her  from  misery 
and  death,  produced  such  a  fever  of  delight  in 
his  brain  as  was  only  to  be  allayed  by  the  most 
extravagant  expressions  and  actions.  He  assured 
her  a  dozen  times  over,  '  he  was  her  dog  and  her 
slave,  and  vowed  he  would  hunt  her  so  many 
Injun  scalps,  and  steal  her  such  a  'tarnal  chance 
of  Shawnee  bosses,  thar  should'nt  be  a  gal  in  all 
Kentucky  should  come  up  to  her  for  stock  and 
glory:'  and,  finally,  not  content  with  making  a 
thousand  other  promises  of  an  equally  extravagant 
character,  and  swearing,  that,  '  if  she  axed  it,  he 
would  go  down  on  his  knees,  and  say  his  prayers 
to  her,'  he  offered,  as  soon  as  he  had  carried  her 
safely  across  the  river,  to  '  take  the  back-track,- 
and  lick,  single-handed,  all  the  Injun  abbregynes 
that  might  be  following.'  Indeed,  to  such  a  pitch 
did  his  enthusiasm  run,  that,  not  knowing  how- 
otherwise  to  give  vent  to  his  overcharged  feelings^ 
he  suddenly  turned  upon  his  heel,  and  shaking  his 
fist  in  the  direction  whence  he  had  come,  as  if 
against  the  enemy  who  had  caused  his  benefac- 
tress so  much  distress,  he  pronounced  a  formal 
and  emphatic  curse  upon  their  whole  race  *  from 
the  head-chief  to  the  commoner,  from  the  whiskey- 
soaking  warrior  down  to  the  pan-licking  squall-a- 
baby,'  all  of  whom  he  anathematized  with  as  much 
originality  as  fervour  of  expression ;  after  which, 
he  proceeded  with  more  sedateness,  to  resume  his 
post  at  the  head  of  the  travellers,  and  conduct 
them  onwards  on  their  way. 

Another  hour  was  now  consumed  in  diving 
amid  cane-brakes  and  swamps,  to  which  Roaring 
Ralph  evinced  a  decidedly  greater  partiality  than 


MCK  OF  THE  WOODS.  237 

to  the  open  forest,  in  which  the  travellers  had 
found  themselves  at  the  dawn;  and  in  this  he 
seemed  to  show  somewhat  more  of  judgment  and 
discretion  than  would  have  been  argued  from  his 
hair-brained  conversation ;  for  the  danger  of 
stumbling  upon  scouting  Indians,  of  which  the 
country  now  seemed  so  full,  was  manifestly  great- 
er in  the  open  woods  than  in  the  dark  and  almost 
unfrequented  cane-brakes :  and  the  w^orthy  horse- 
thief,  with  all  his  apparent  love  of  fight,  was  not 
at  all  anxious  that  the  angel  of  his  worship  should 
be  alarmed  or  endangered,  while  entrusted  to  his 
zealous  safe-keeping. 

But  it  happened  in  this  case,  as  it  has  happened 
with  better  and  wiser  men,  that  Stackpole's  cun- 
ning over-reached  itself,  as  was  fully  shown  in  the 
event;  and  it  would  have  been  ha])pier  for  him- 
self and  all,  if  his  discretion,  instead  of  plunging 
him  among  difficult  and  almost  impassable  bogs, 
where  a  precious  hour  w^as  wasted  in  effecting  a 
mere  temporary  security  and  concealment  from 
observation,  had  taught  him  the  necessity  of  push- 
ing onwards  with  all  possible  speed,  so  as  to  leave 
pursuers,  if  pursuit  should  be  attempted,  far  be- 
hind. At  the  expiration  of  that  hour,  so  injudi- 
ciously wasted,  the  fugitives  issued  from  the  brake, 
and  stepping  into  a  narrow^  path  worn  by  the  feet 
of  bisons  among  stunted  shrubs  and  parched 
grasses,  along  the  face  of  a  lime-stone  hill,  spar- 
ingly scattered  over  with  a  similar  barren  growth, 
began  to  wind  their  way  downw^ard  into  a  hollow 
vale,  in  which  they  could  hear  the  murmurs,  and 
perceive  the  glimmering  waters,  of  the  river,  over 
which  they  seemed  never  destined  to  pass. 

"  Thar\  'tarnal  death  to  me !"  roared  Ralph, 
pointing  downwards  with  triumph,  "  arn't  that  old 
Salt  now,  looking  as  sweet  and  liquorish  as  a 
whole  trough-full  of  sugar-tree  ?     We'll  jist  take 


238  NICK  or  THE  ■\V00D5. 

a  dip  at  him,  anngelliferous  madam,  jist  to  wash 
the  mud  oil'  our  shoes ;  and  then,  'tarnal  death  to 
me,  fawwell  to  old  Salt  and  the  abbregynes  toge- 
ther,— cock-a-doodle-doo !" 

With  this  comfortable  assurance,  and  such  en- 
couragement as  he  could  convey  in  the  lustiest 
gallicantation  ever  fetched  from  lungs  of  man  or 
fowl,  the  worthy  Stackpole,  who  had  slackened 
his  steps,  but  without  stopping,  while  he  spoke^ 
turned  his  face  again  to  the  descent ;  when, — as 
if  that  war-cry  had  conjured  up  enemies  from  the 
very  air, — a  rifle  bullet,  shot  from  a  bush  not  six 
yards  off',  suddenly  whizzed  through  his  hair,  scat- 
tering a  handful  of  it  to  the  winds;  and  while  a 
dozen  more  were,  at  the  same  instant,  poured 
upon  other  members  of  the  unfortunate  party* 
fourteen  or  fifteen  savages  rushed  out  from  their 
concealment  among  the  grass  and  bushes,  three 
of  whom  seized  upon  the  rein  of  the  unhappy 
Edith,  while  twice  as  many  sprang  upon  Captain 
Forrester,  and,  before  he  could  raise  an  arm  in 
defence,  bore  him  to  the  earth,  a  victim  or  a  pri- 
soner. 

So  much  the  astounded  horse-thief  saw  with  his 
own  eyes;  but  before  he  could  make  good  any 
of  the  numberless  promises  he  had  volunteered 
during  the  morning  journey,  of  killing  and  eating 
the  whole  family  of  North  American  Indians,  or 
exemplify  the  unutterable  gratitude  and  devo- 
tion he  had  as  often  professed  to  the  fair  Vir- 
ginian, four  brawny  barbarians,  one  of  them  rising 
at  his  side  and  from  the  very  bush  whence  the 
bullet  had  been  discharged  at  his  head,  rushed 
against  him,  flourishing  their  guns  and  knives,  and 
yelling  with  transport,  "  Got  you  now,  Cappin 
Stackpole,  steal-hoss !  No  go  steal  no  boss  no 
more  !  roast  on  great  big  fire !" 

"  'Tarnal  death  to  me !"  roared  Stackpole,  for- 


NICK  OF  THE  WOODS.  23^ 

getting  every  thing  else  in  the  instinct  of  self-pre- 
servation; and  firing  his  piece  at  the  nearest  ene- 
my, he  suddenly  leaped  from  the  path  into  the 
bushes  on  its  lower  side,  where  was  a  precipitous 
descent,  down  which  he  went  rolling  and  crash- 
ing with  a  velocity  almost  equal  to  that  of  the 
bullets  that  were  sent  after  him.  Three  of  the 
four  assailants  immediately  darted  after  in  pur- 
suit, and  their  shouts  growing  fainter  and  fainter 
as  they  descended,  were  mingled  with  the  loud 
yeli  of  victory,  now  uttered  by  a  dozen  savage 
voices  from  the  hill-side. 

It  was  a  victory,  indeed,  in  every  sense,  com- 
plete, almost  bloodless,  as  it  seemed,  to  the  assail- 
ants, and  effected  at  a  moment  when  the  hopes  of 
the  travellers  were  at  the  highest :  and  so  sudden 
was  the  attack,  so  instantaneous  the  change  from 
freedom  to  captivity,  so  like  the  juggling  transi- 
tion of  a  dream  the  whole  catastrophe,  that  For- 
rester, although  overthrown  and  bleeding  from 
two  several  wounds  received  at  the  first  fire,  and 
wholly  in  the  power  of  his  enemies,  who  flourish- 
ed their  knives  and  axes  in  his  face,  yelling  with 
exultation ;  could  scarce  appreciate  his  situation, 
or  understand  what  dreadful  misadventure  had 
happened,  until  his  eye,  wandering  among  the 
dusky  arms  that  grappled  him,  fell  first  upon  the 
body  of  the  negro  Emperor,  hard  by,  gored  by 
numberless  wounds,  and  trampled  by  the  feet  of 
his  slayers,  and  then  upon  the  apparition,  a  thou- 
sand times  more  dismal  to  his  eyes,  of  his  kins- 
w^oman  snatched  from  her  horse  and  struggling  in 
the  arms  of  her  savage  captors.  The  phrensy 
with  which  he  was  seized  at  this  lamentable  sight 
endowed  him  with  a  giant's  strength ;  but  it  was 
exerted  in  vain  to  free  himself  from  his  enemies, 
all  of  whom  seemed  to  experience  a  barbarous  de- 
light at  his  struggles,  some  encouraging  him  with 


240  NICK  OF  THE  WOODS. 

loud  laughter  and  in  broken  English,  to  continue 
them,  while  others  taunted  and  scolded  at  him 
more  like  shrewish  squaws  than  valiant  warriors, 
assuring  him  that  they  were  great  Shawnee  fight- 
ing-men, and  he  a  little  Long-knife  dog,  entirely 
beneath  their  notice :  which  expressions,  though 
at  variance  with  all  his  preconceived  notions  of 
the*  stern  gravity  of  the  Indian  character,  and 
rather  indicative  of  a  roughly  jocose  than  a  dark- 
ly ferocious  spirit,  did  not  prevent  their  taking  the 
surest  means  to  quiet  his  exertions  and  secure 
their  prize,  by  tying  his  hands  behind  him  with  a 
thong  of  buftalo  hide,  drawn  so  tight  as  to  inflict 
the  most  excruciating  pain.  But  pain  of  body 
was  then,  and  for  many  moments  after,  lost  in 
agony  of  mind,  which  could  be  conceived  only  by 
him  who,  like  the  young  soldier,  has  been  doom- 
ed, once  in  his  life,  to  see  a  tender  female,  the 
nearest  and  dearest  object  of  his  aflections,  in  the 
hands  of  enemies,  the  most  heartless,  merciless, 
and  brutal  of  all  the  races  of  men.  He  saw  her 
pale  visage  convulsed  with  terror  and  despair, — 
he  beheld  her  arms  stretched  towards  him,  as  if 
beseeching  the  help  he  no  longer  had  the  power 
to  render, — and  expected  every  instant  the  fall  of 
the  hatchet,  or  the  flash  of  the  knife,  that  was  to 
pour  her  blood  upon  the  earth  before  him.  He 
would  have  called  upon  the  wretches  around  for 
pity,  but  his  tongue  clove  to  his  mouth,  his  brain 
spun  round;  and  such  became  the  intensity  of  his 
feelings,  that  he  was  suddenly  bereft  of  sense, 
and  fell  like  a  dead  man  to  the  earth,  where  he 
lay  for  a  time,  ignorant  of  all  events  passing 
around,  ignorant  also  of  the  duration  of  his  insen- 
sibility. 

END  OF  VOL.  I. 


IRVING'S    ASTORIA 


LATELY  PUBLtSHED  BY 

CARE^,  LEA  AND  BLANCHARD, 

PHILADELPHIA, 

ASTORIA: 

OR, 

ANECDOTES   OF   AN   ENTERPRISE 

BEYOND    THE 

ROCKY  MOUNTAINS. 

BY    WASHINGTON    IRVING. 
HANDSOMELY  BOUND IN  TWO  VOLS.  EMBOSSED  CLOTH. 

"  As  a  fireside  book,  for  a  general  circle,  we  have  met  with  nothing 
likely  to  prove  as  acceptable,  since  the  appearance  of  that  strange,  but 
fascinating  puzzle,  '  Sir  Edward  Seaward's  Diary.' " — Athenaum. 

"  The  piost  finished  narrative  of  a  series  of  adventures  that  ever  was 
written,  whether  with  regard  to  plan  or  execution.  The  arrangement  has 
all  the  art  of  fiction,  yet  without  any  apparent  sacrifice  of  truth  or  exact- 
ness ;  the  composition  we  are  inclined  to  rate  as  the  chef  d'oeuvre  of 
Washington  Irving." — London  Spectator. 

"The  enterprise  embraced  expeditions  by  sea  and  land,  which  gave  rise 
to  various  adventures  '  by  flood  and  field,'  that  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  hardy 
adventurers  who  embarked  in  them.  Their  '  hairbreadth  escapes' — the 
thrilling  incidents  of  their  journeying — the  sights  seen  in  their  travel — 
the  various  Indian  tribes  whom  they  visited — their  privations  and  suffer- 
ings, and  their  own  characteristics,  as  elicited  and  developed  by  the  cir- 
cumstances into  which  they  fell,  form  entertaining  episodes  from  the  main 
body  of  the  work,  and  impart  to  it  the  greater  portion  of  its  interest. 

"The  merits  of  Astoria  are  many  and  sterling,  and  not  the  least  among 
them  is,  that  it  gives,  perhaps,  a  better  idea  of  the  great  far-oflf  West  than 
any  of  its  predecessors,  which  have  been  founded  on  the  same  subject ; 
we  can  therefore  commend  it  as  a  work,  not  only  of  great  interest,  but  of 
great  utility." — Daili/  Evening  Post. 


INTRODUCTION 


In  the  course  of  occasional  visits  to  Canada  many  years 
since,  I  became  intimately  acquainted  with  some  of  the 
principal  partners  of  the  great  North- West  Fur  Company, 
who  at  that  time  hved  in  gonial  style  at  Montreal,  and 
kept  almost  open  house  for  the  stranger.  At  their  hospi- 
table boards  I  occasionally  met  with  partners,  and  clerks, 
and  hardy  fur  traders  from  the  interior  posts ;  men  who 
had  passed  years  remote  from  civilized  society,  among 
ilistant  and  savage  tribes,  and  who  had  wonders  to 
recount  of  their  wide  and  wild  peregrinations,  their 
hunting  exploits,  and  their  perilous  adventures  and  hair- 
breadth escapes  among  the  Indians.  I  was  at  an  age 
when  the  imagination  lends  its  coloring  to  every  thing, 
and  the  stories  of  these  Sinbads  of  the  wilderness  made 
the  life  of  a  trapper  and  fur  trader  perfect  romance  to  me. 
[  even  meditated  at  one  time  a  visit  to  the  remote  posts 
of  the  company  in  the  boats  winch  annually  ascended  the 
lakes  and  rivers,  being  thereto  invited  by  one  of  the  part- 
ners ;  and  I  have  ever  since  regretted  that  I  was  prevented 
by  circumstances  from  carrying  my  intention  into  effect. 


INTRODUCTION. 


From  those  early  impressions,  the  grand  enterprises  of  the 
great  fur  companies,  and  the  hazardous  errantry  of  their 
associates  in  the  wild  parts  of  our  vast  continent,  have 
alw^ays  been  themes  of  charmed  interest  to  me ;  and  I 
have  felt  anxious  to  get  at  the  details  of  their  adventurous 
expeditions  among  the  savage  tribes  that  peopled  the 
depths  of  the  wilderness. 

About  two  years  ago,  not  long  after  my  return  from  a 
tour  upon  the  prairies  of  the  far  west,  I  had  a  conversation 
with  my  friend  Mr.  John  Jacob  Astor,  relative  to  that  por- 
tion of  our  country,  and  to  the  adventurous  traders  to 
Santa  Fe  and  the  Columbia.  This  led  him  to  advert  to  a 
great  enterprize  set  on  foot  and  conducted  by  him,  between 
twenty  and  thirty  years  since,  having  for  its  object  to  carry 
the  fur  trade  across  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  to  sweep 
the  shores  of  the  Pacific. 

Finding  that  I  took  an  interest  in  the  subject,  he  ex- 
pressed a  regret  that  the  true  nature  and  extent  of  his 
enterprise  and  its  national  character  and  importance  had 
never  been  understood,  and  a  wish  that  I  would  undertake 
to  give  an  account  of  it.  The  suggestion  struck  upon  the 
chord  of  early  associations,  already  vibrating  in  my  mind. 
It  occurred  to  me  that  a  work  of  diis  kind  might  comprise 
a  variety  of  those  curious  details,  so  interesting  to  me, 
illustrative  of  the  fur  trade ;  of  its  remote  and  adventurous 
enterprises,  and  of  the  various  people,  and  tribes,  and 
castes,  and  characters,  civiHzed  and  savage,  affected  by  its 
operations.  The  journals,  and  letters  also,  of  the  adven- 
turers by  sea  and  land  employed  by  Mr.  Astor  in  his  com- 
prehensive project,  might  throw  hght  upon  portions  of  our 


INTRODUCTION.  5 

country  quite  out  of  the  track  of  ordinary  travel,  and  as 
yet  but  little  known.  I  therefore  felt  disposed  to  under- 
take the  task,  provided  documents  of  sufficient  extent 
and  minuteness  could  be  furnished  to  me.  All  the  papers 
relative  to  the  enterprise  were  accordingly  submitted  to 
my  inspection.  Among  them  were  journals  and  letters 
narrating  expeditions  by  sea,  and  journeys  to  and  fro 
across  the  Rocky  Mountains  by  routes  before  untravelled, 
together  with  documents  illustrative  of  savage  and  colonial 
life  on  the  borders  of  the  Pacific.  With  such  materials  in 
hand,  I  undertook  the  work.  The  trouble  of  rummaging 
among  business  papers,  and  of  collecting  and  collating 
facts  from  amidst  tedious  and  common-place  details,  was 
spared  me  by  my  nephew,  Pien-e  M.  Irving,  who  acted 
as  my  pioneer,  and  to  whom  I  am  greatly  indebted  for 
smoothing  my  path  and  lightening  my  labors. 

As  the  journals,  on  which  I  chiefly  depended,  had  been 
kept  by  men  of  business,  intent  upon  the  main  object  of 
the  enterprise,  and  but  little  versed  in  science,  or  curious 
about  m.atters  not  immediately  bearing  upon  their  interests, 
and  as  they  were  written  often  in  moments  of  fatigue  or 
hurry,  amid  the  inconveniences  of  wild  encampments,  they 
were  often  meagre  in  their  details,  furnishing  hints  to 
provoke  rather  than  narratives  to  satisfy  inquiry.  I  have, 
therefore,  availed  myself  occasionally  of  collateral  lights 
supplied  by  the  published  journals  of  other  travellers  who 
have  visited  the  scenes  described :  such  as  Messrs.  Lewis 
and  Clarke,  Bradbury,  Breckenridge,  Long,  Franchere, 
and  Ross  Cox,  and  make  a  general  acknowledgment  of  aid 

received  from  these  quarters. 

I* 


6  I^TRODrCTION. 

The  work  I  here  present  to  the  pubhc,  is  necessarily  of 
a  rambhng  and  somewhat  disjointed  nature,  comprising 
various  expeditions  and  adventures  by  land  and  sea.  The 
facts,  however,  will  prove  to  be  linked  and  banded  together 
by  one  grand  scheme,  devised  and  conducted  by  a  master 
spirit;  one  set  of  characters,  also,  continues  throughout, 
appearing  occasionally,  though  sometimes  at  long  inter- 
vals, and  the  whole  enterprise  winds  up  by  a  regular 
catastrophe  ;  so  that  the  work,  without  any  labored  attempt 
at  artificial  construction,  actually  possesses  much  of  that 
unity  so  much  sought  after  in  works  of  fiction,  and  con- 
sidered so  important  to  the  interest  of  every  history. 


CONTENTS.  Vll 

FAGS. 

CHAPTER  XXII. 
Banks  of  the  Wallah-Wallah — departure  of  David  Stuart  for  tlic 
Oakinagan — Mr.  Clarke's  route  up  Lewis  river — Chipunnish,  or 
Pierced-nose  Indians — their  character,  appearance,  and  habits — 
tliievish  habits — laying  up  of  the  boats — post  at  Pointed  Heart  and 
Spokan  rivers — M'Kenzic,  his  route  up  the  Camoenum — bands  of 
travelling  Indians — expedition  of  Reed  to  the  caches — adventures 
of  wandering  voyageurs  and  trappers.  .         .         .         .         .190 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Departure  of  Mr.  Hunt  in  the  Ceaver — precautions  at  the  factory 
— detachment  to  the  WoUamut — gloomy  apprehensions — arrival 
of  M'Kcnzie — affairs  at  the  Shahaptan — news  of  war — dismay 
of  M'Dougal — determination  to  abandon  Astoria — departure  of 
M'Kenzie  for  the  interior — adventure  at  the  rapids — visit  to  the 
ruffians  of  Wish-ram — a  perilous  situation — meeting  with  M'Tavish 
and  his  party — arrival  at  the  Shahaptan — plundered  caches — de- 
termination of  the  wintering  partners  not  to  leave  the  country — 
arrival  of  Clarke  among  the  Nez  Percys — the  affair  of  the  silver 
goblet — hanging  of  an  Indian — arrival  of  Cue  wintering  partners  at 
Astoria. 198 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
The  partners  displeased  with  M'Dougal — equivocal  conduct  of  that 
gentleman — partners  agree  to  abandon  Astoria — sale  of  goods  to 
M'Tavish — arrangements  for  the  year — manifesto   signed  by  the 
partners — departure  of  M'Tavish  for  the  interior.  .        .        .211 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

Anxieties  of  Mr.  Astor — memorial  of  the  North-west  Company — 
tidings  of  a  British  naval  expedition  against  Astoria — Mr.  Astor 
applies  to  government  for  protection — the  frigate  Adams  ordered 
to  be  fitted  out — bright  news  from  Astoria — sunshine  suddenly 
overclouded.  216 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 
Affairs  of  state  at  Astoria — M'Dougal  proposes  for  the  hand  of  an 
Indian  princess — matrimonial  embassy  to  Comcomly — matrimonial 
notions  among  the  Chinooks — settlements  and  pin  money — tlie 
bringing  home  of  the  bride — a  managing  father-in-law — arrival  of 
Mr.  Hunt  at  Astoria 219 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 
Voyage  of  the  Beaver  to  New  Archangel — a  Russian  governor — roys- 
tering  rule — the  tyranny  of  the  table — hard  drinking  bargains — 


CONTENTS.  XI 

PA-OB. 

CHAPTER  XX. 
Features  of  the  wilderness — herds  of  buffalo — antelopes — their  varie-  i 

ties  and  habits — John  Day — his  hunting  stratagem— interview  witli 
three  Arickaras — negotiations  between  the  rival  parties — the  Left- 
handed  and  tlie  Big  Man,  two  Arickara  chiefs — Arickara  village — 
its  inhabitants — ceremonials  on  landing — a  council  lodge — grand 
conference — speech  of  Lisa — negotiation  for  horses — shrewd  sug- 
gestion of  Gray  Eyes,  an  Arickara  cliief— encampment  of  the 
trading  parties. 207 

CHAPTER  XXL 
An  Indian  horse  fair — love  of  the  Indians  for  horses — scenes  in  the 
Arickara  village — Indian  hospitality — duties  of  Indian  women — 
game  habits  of  the  men — their  indolence — love  of  gossiping — nimors 
of  lurking  enemies — scouts — an  alarm — a  sallying  forth — Indian 
dogs — return  of  a  horse-stealing  party — an  Indian  deputation — 
fresh  alarms — return  of  a  successful  war  party — dress  of  the  Arick- 
aras— Indian  toilet — triumphal  entiy  of  the  war  party — meetings  of 
relations  and  friends — Indian  sensibility— -meeting  of  a  wounded 
warrior  and  his  mother — festivities  and  lamentations.        .         .         .218 

CHAPTER  XXII. 
Wilderness  of  the  far  west — great  American  desert — parched  seasons 
— Black  hills — Rocky  mountains — wandering  and  predatory  hordes 
— speculations  on  what  may  be  the  future  population — apprehended 
dangers — a  plot  to  desert — Rose  the  interpreter — his  sinister  char- 
acter— departure  from  the  Arickara  village 230 

CHAPTER  XXIIL 
Summer  weather  of  the  prairies — purity  of  the  atmosphere — Cana- 
dians on  the  march — sickness  in  the  camp — Big  river — vulgar  nom- 
enclature— suggestions  about  the  original  Indian  names — camp  of 
Cheyennes — trade  for  horses — character  of  the  Cheyennes — their 
horsemanship — historical  anecdotes  of  the  tribe.       ....     236 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
New  distribution  of  horses — secret  information  of  treason  in  the  camp 
— Rose  the  intei-preter,  his  perfidious  character — liis  plots — anec- 
dotes of  the  Crow  Indians — notorious  horse  stealers — some  account 
o(  Rose — a  desperado  of  the  frontier 242 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
Substitute  for  fuel  on  the  prairies — fossil  trees — fierceness  of  the  buf- 
faloes when  in  heat — three  hunters  missing — signal  fires  and  smokes 
— uneasiness  concerning  the  lost  men — a  plan  to  forestall  a  rogue- 
new  arrangement  with  Rose — rcturn  of  the  wanderers.  .        .     246 


CAREY,  LEA  AND  BLANCHARD 

Also  publish  the  following  works  by  Washington  Irving. 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  LIFE  AND  VOYAGES  OF  CHRISTO. 
PHER  COLUMBUS  AND  COMPANIONS.  A  new  edition,  revised 
and  corrected  by  the  author.     In  three  vols.  8vo. 


THE  CRAYON  MISCELLANY,  to  be  published  at  intervals.— Now 
ready — 

Part  L — A  Tour  on  the  Prairies. 

Part  2. — Abbotsford  and  Newstead  Abbey. 

Part  3. — Legends  of  the  Conquest  of  Spain. 


New  editions  of 

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Antonio  Agapida.     In  two  vols.  12mo. 

THE  ALHAMBRA ;  a  scries  of  Tales  and  Sketches  of  the  Moors  and 
Spaniards.     In  two  vols.  12mo. 

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KNICKERBOCKER'S   HISTORY  OF  NEW  YORK.     In  two  vols. 
12mo. 

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frey  Crayon,  Gent.     In  two  vols.  12mo, 

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THE  BEAUTIES  OF  WASHINGTON  IRVING;  a  small  volume  for 
the  pocket,  neatly  done  up  in  extra  cloth. 

By  John  T.  Irving,  Jr. 

INDIAN  SKETCHES,  taken  during  an  expedition  to  the  Pawnee  Tribes. 
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By  Theodore  Irving. 

THE  CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA  by  Hernando  de  Soto.    In  two  vols. 
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1 


BRIDGEWATER   TREATISES. 
NOW  COMPLETE. 

This  series  of  'I'reatises  is  published  under  the  following  circunistances : 

The  Right  Honourable  and  Rev.  Francis  Henrv,  Earl  of  Bridgewater, 
died  in  tiie  month  of  February,  1829  ;  and  by  his  last  will  and  testament, 
bearing  date  the  25th  of  February,  1825;  he  directed  certain  trustees  therein 
named,  to  invest  in  the  public  funds,  the  sum  of  eight  thousand  pounds 
sterling;  this  sum,  with  the  accruing  dividen<ls  thei eon,  to  be  held  at  the 
disposal  of  the  President,  for  the  time  being,  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Lon- 
don, to  be  |;aid  to  the  person  or  persons  nominated  by  him.  The  Testator 
farther  directed,  that  the  person  or  persons  selected  by  the  said  President, 
should  be  appointed  to  write,  print  and  publish  one  thousand  copies  of  a 
work,  on  the  Power,  \Vis.dom,  and  Goodness  of  God,  as  manifested  in  the 
Creation  ;  illustrating  such  work,  by  all  reasonable  arguments,  as  for  in- 
stance, the  variety  and  formation  of  God's  creatures  in  the  Animal,  Vege- 
table, and  Mineral  Kingdoms  ;  the  effect  of  digestion,  and,  thereby,  of  con- 
version;  the  construction  of  the  hand  of  man,  and  an  infinite  variety  of 
other  arguments;  as  al^o  by  discoveries,  ancient  and  modern,  in  arts, 
sciences,  and  the  whole  extent  <,«f  literature. 

He  desiretl,  moreover,  that  the  profits  arising  from  the  sale  of  the  works 
so  published,  should  be  paid  to  the  authors  ol"  the  works. 

The  late  President  of  the  Royal  Society,  Davies  Gilbert,  Esq.  requested 
the  assistance  of  his  Grace  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  of  the 
Bishop  of  London,  in  determining  upon  the  best  mode  of  carrying  into 
effect  the  intentions  of  the  Testator.  Acting  with  their  advice,  and  with 
the  concurrence  of  a  nobleman  immediately  connected  with  the  deceased, 
Mr.  Davies  Gilbert  appointed  the  following  eight  gentlemen  to  write  sepa- 
rate Treaiises  in  the  different  branches  of  the  subject  here  stated  : — 

I.  The  Adaptation  of  External  Nature  to  the  Moral  and  Intellectual 
Constitution  of  Man,  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Chalmers,  D.  D.  Professor  of 
Divinity  in  the  University  of  Edinburgh. 

II.  The  Adaptation  of  External  Nature  to  the  Physical  Condition  of 
Man,  by  John  Kidd,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S.,  Regius  Professor  of  Medicine  in  the 
University  of  Oxford. 

III.  Astronomy  and  General  Physics,  considered  with  reference  to  Na- 
tural Theology,  by  the  Rev.  William  Whewell,  M.  A.,  F.  R.  S.,  Fellow  of 
Trinity  College,  Cambridge. 

IV.  The  Hand;  its  mechanism  and  vital  endowments  as  evincing  design, 
by  Sir  Charles  Bell,  K.  H.,  F.  R.  S. 

V.  Animal  and  Vegetable  Physiology,  by  Peter  Mark  Roget,  M.D.,  Fel- 
low of  and  Secretary  to  the  Royal  Society. 

VI.  Geology  and  Mineralogy,  by  the  Rev.  VVm.  Buckland,  D.  D.,  F.R.  S., 
Canon  of  Christ  Church,  and  Professor  of  Geology  in  the  University  of 
Oxford. 

VII.  The  History,  Habits,  and  Instincts  of  Animals,  by  the  Rev.  William 
Kirby,  M.  A.,  F.R.  S. 

VIII.  Chemistry,  Meteorology,  and  the  Function  of  Digestion,  by  Wm. 
Front,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S. 


2 

The  whole  of  these  valuable  works  being  now  published, 

they  can  be  had  in  the  following  manner : — 

TREATISE  FIRST. 

ON  THE  ADAPTATION  OF  EXTERNAL  NATURE  TO  THE  MO- 
RAL AND  INTELLECTUAL  CONSTITUTION  OF  MAN.  By  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Chalmeus,  D.  D. 

TREATISE  EIGHTH. 

CHEMISTRY,  METEOROLOGY,  AND  THE  FUNCTIONS  OF  DIGES- 
TION,  considered   with   reference  to  Natural   Theology.     Bv  William 
^  PRotJT,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S. 

TREATISE  SECOND. 

A  TREATISE  ON  THE  ADAPTATION  OF  EXTERNAL  NATURE 
TO  THE  PHYr^lCAL  CONDITION  OF  MAN,  principally  with  refer- 
ence  to  the  supply  of  his  wants,  and  the  exercise  of  his  intellectual  facul- 
ties.    By  John  Kidd,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S. 

TREATISE  THIRD. 

ASTRONOMY  AND  GENERAL  PHYSICS,  considered  with  reference 
to  Natural  Theology.     By  the  Rev.  William  Whewell,  M.  A. 

TREATISE  FOURTH. 

THE  HAND:  ITS  MECHANISM  AND  VITAL  ENDOWMENTS,  AS 
EVINCING  DESIGN.     By  Sir  Chakles  Bell,  K.  G.  H. 

The  above  five  works  in  tiro  handsome  Svo.  volumes — or 
they  may  be  had  separately  in  a  cheap  form,  each  in  one 
vol.  12mo. 

TREATISE  SEVENTH. 

THE  HISTORY,  HABITS  AND  INSTINCIS  OF  ANIMALS.  Ey  the 
Rev.  William  Kirbv,  M.  A.,  F.  R.  S.  Illustrated  by  numerous  engra- 
vings on  copper.     In  one  handsome  8vo.  volume. 

TREATISE  FIFTH. 

ANIMAL  AND  VEGETABLE  PHYSIOLOGY,  considered  with  reference 
to  Natural  Theology.  By  Peter  Mark  Roget,  M.  D.  Illustrated  with 
nearly  500  wood-cuts.     In  two  handsome  Svo.  volumes. 


TREATISE  SIXTH. 

GEOLOGY  AND  MINERALOGY,  considered  with  reference  to  Natural 
Theology.  By  the  Rev.  William  Buckland,  D  D.  Illustrated  by  87 
lar^e  and  expensive  plates  engraved  on  Copper,  forming  two  handsome 
Svo,  volumes. 


THE    BRIDGEWATER    TREATISES, 

THE  WHOLE  NOW  COMPLETE, 

In  seven  volumes  octavo,  handsomely  done  up  in  fine  cloth,  or  half  bound 
with  talf  backs  and  corners. 

VOLS.  1  and  2,  embracing  Treatise 

I.  1  lie  Adaptation  of  External  Nature  to  the  Moral  an.l  Intellectual  Con- 
stitution of  Man,  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Chalmers,  D.  D.,  I'lofessor  of  Divi- 
nity in  the  University  of  Edinburgii. 

VIII.  Chemistrv,  Meteorology,  and  the  Function  of  Digestion,  by  Wm. 
Prnnt,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S. 

II.  The  Adaptation  of  External  Nature  to  the  Physical  condition  of  Man, 
by  John  Kidd,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S.,  Regius  Professor  of  Medicine  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Oxford. 

III.  Astronomy  and  General  Physics,  considered  with  reference  to  Natu- 
ral Theology,  by  the  Rev.  William  Whewell,  M.  A,,  F.  R.  S.,  Fellow  of  Tri- 
nity College,  Cambridge. 

iV.  TIte  Hand:  its  mechanism  and  vital  endowments  as  evincing  design, 
by  Sii  Charles  Bell,  K.  H.,  F.  R.  S. 

VOL.  3,  embracing  Treatise 
VII.  The  History,  'Habit-s,  and  Instincts  of  Animals,  by  the  Rev.  William 
Kirby,  M.  A.,  F.  R.  S.     With  numerous  plates  on  Copper. 

VOLS.  4  and  5,  enibracing  Treatise 

V.  Animal  antl  Vegetable  Physinloey,  by  Peter  Mark  Roget,  M.  D.,  Fel- 
lo»v  of  and  secretary  to  the  Ro^al  Society.     With  numerous  wood-cuts. 

VOLS.  6  and  7,  embracing  Treatise 

VI.  Geology  and  Mineralogy,  by  the  Rev.  Wm.  Buckland,  D.  D.,  F.  R.  S., 
Canon  of  Christ  Church,  and  Professor  of  Geology  in  the  University  of 
Oxfuid.     Willi  87  large  Copper-plate  engravings. 

The  following  notices  of  these  works  aie  selected  from  amongst  nume- 
rous commendations  bestowed  on  them  by  the  Reviews  and  public  prints: — 

"  The  volumes  before  us  are  every  way  worthy  of  their  subject.  It  would 
seem  almost  supererogatoiy  to  pass  any  judgment  on  the  style  of  a  writer 
so  ce!(^brated  as  Dr.  Chalmers.  He  is  well  known  as  a  logician  not  to  be 
baffled  by  any  difficulties  ;  as  one  who  boldly  grapples  with  his  theme,  and 
brings  every  energy  of  his  clear  and  nervous  intellect  into  the  field.  No 
fophistiy  escapes  his  eagle  vision — no  argeiment  that  could  either  enforce 
or  illustrate  his  subject  is  left  untouched.  Our  literature  owes  a  deep  debt 
of  gratitude  to  the  author  of  these  admirable  volumes." — -Lit.  Gazelle. 

"  It  is  ably  written,  and  replete  both  with  interest  and  instruction.  The 
diflusion  of  such  works  cannot  fail  to  be  attended  with  the  happiest  effects 
in  justifying  '  the  ways  of  God  to  man,'  and  illustrating  the  wisdom  and 
goodness  of  the  Creator  by  arguments  which  appeal  irresistibly  both  to  the 
reason  and  feelings.  Few  can  understand  abstract  reasoning,  and  still  fewer 
relish  if,  or  will  listen  to  it:  but  in  this  woik  the  purest  morality  and  the 
kindliest  feelings  are  inculcated' through  the  medium  of  agreeable  and  use« 
ful  information." — Ballimore  GazttU. 


"  In  the  present  treatise,  it  is  a  matter  of  the  warmest  satisfaction  to  find 
an  anatomist  of  Sir  Charles  Bell's  great  eminence,  professing  his  contempt 
for  the  late  fashionable  doctrines  of  Materialism  held  by  so  many  anato. 
mists,  and  now  coming  forward  to  present  the  fruits  of  his  wide  researches 
and  great  ability,  in  a  treatise  so  full  of  curious  and  interesting  matter, 
expressly  intended  to  prove,  by  the  examinaJion  of  one  particular  point, 
that  design  which  is  imprevsed  on  all  parts  of  the  various  animals  which 
in  some  degree  answer  the  purposes  of  the  hand,  and  has  shown  that  the 
hand  is  not  the  source  of  contrivance,  nor  consequently  of  man's  superi- 
ority, as  some  materialists  have  maintained,  lo  this  he  has  added  some 
very  valuable  remarks,  showing  the  uses  of  pain,  and  he  has  illustrated 
this  work  with  a  variety  of  the  most  admirable  and  interesting  wood 
cuts." — British  Magazine. 

"  The  manner  in  which  he  has  executed  his  task  is  able  and  satisfactory. 
With  great  and  extensive  experimental  knowledge,  and  a  complete  ac- 
quaintance with  his  subject,  as  well  as  just  and  elevated  views  of  the  great- 
ness and  divine  nature  of  the  Creator,  he  has  brought  one  of  the  most 
powerful  chains  of  reasoning  to  the  support  of  Revelation  which  philoso- 
phy has  yet  added  to  that  holy  cause." — JV*.  F.  Commercial, 

"  Let  works  like  that  befoie  us  be  widely  disseminated,  and  the  bold,  ac- 
tive, and  ingenious  enemies  of  religion  be  met  by  those,  equally  sagacious, 
alert  and  resolute,  and  the  most  timid  of  the  many  who  depend  upon  the 
{gw,  need  not  fear  the  host  that  comes  with  subtle  steps  to  <  steal  their  faith 
away.'  "— JY*.  Y.  American. 

"That  the  devoted  spirit  of  the  work  is  most  exemplary,  that  we  have 
here  and  there  found,  or  fancied,  room  for  cavil,  only  peradventure  be- 
cause we  have  been  unable  to  follow  the  author  through  the  prodigious 
range  of  his  philoso})l)ical  survey — and  in  a  word,  that  the  work  before  us 
would  have  made  the  reputation  of  any  other  man,  and  may  well  maintain 
even  that  of  Professor  Whevvell." — Melropolilan. 

"We  have  read  this  work  (Buckland's  Geology,  &ic.)  with  a  degree  of 
satisfaction  and  admiration  which  has  increased  at  every  step. 

"  It  is  a  full  digest  of  the  most  important  facts  in  geology,  happily  com- 
bined, with  great  condensation  and  perspicuity,  and  by  the  most  liberal  use 
of  plates  beautifully  executed,  it  speaks  intelligibly  to  the  eyes,  even  of 
those  who  are  not  familiar  with  the  language  of  natural  history,  and  thus 
it  displays  the  astonishing  structure  of  the  world. 

"The  great  moral  demonstration  which  is  its  main  object,  is  fully  sus- 
tained, and  we  think  that  no  man  can  rise  from  the  intelligent  perusal  of  it, 
without  a  full  conviction  that  a  creating  and  governing  mind,  infinite  in 
power,  knowledge,  wisdom  and  benevolence,  has  gradually  arranged  the 
materials  of  this  planet,  and  caused  to  be  interred  in  its  strata  and  mineral 
masses,  documents  of  its  history,  and  of  that  of  innumerable  races  of  ani- 
mals and  plants,  from  the  most  miscroscopic  to  the  most  collosal,  which 
lived  and  died  ere  man  appeared — documents  surpassing  in  niunber  and  in 
credibility  every  thing  of  actual  history,  except  the  inspired  record  itself. 

"  With  this  record  we  believe  these  facts  to  be  entirely  consistent,  and 
we  are  fully  assured  that  ignorance  of  them  is  the  sole  cause  of  the  incre- 
dulity and  displeasure  which  are  manifested  by  some  as  to  the  moral  bear- 
ing of  geology. 

"  We  cannot  now  enter  upon  this  argument,  and  can  only  say,  in  con- 
clusion, that  Dr.  Buckland  has,  by  the  present  work,  laid  both  science  and 
religion  under  great  obligations, — while  he  will  delight  all  his  readers  by 
the  vigour,  beauty  and  eloquence  which  gives  his  work  as  high  a  rank  in 
literature  as  it  claims  in  science." — Silliman's  Journal. 


^/.^"-  L^. 


i 


